Work Record Pocket Diaries of Charles Somers Miller [mostly notes on hours worked per day, with some sketches and addresses, etc.; what follows is the remainder] 1876 01\01\1876(Sa) Worked at Benedict & Burnham's 4 1/2 hours. 01\07\1876(Fr) Went to West Haven. 02\04\1876(Fr) First sleighing of the season. 02\07\1876(Mo) Sleighing all gone. 02\14\1876(Mo) Paid for my paper. 02\28\1876(Mo) More sleighing. 02\29\1876(Tu) Good sleighing; snowed about 1 1/2 inches thick. 03\03\1876(Fr) Sleighing all gone. 03\11\1876(Sa) Paid for paper. 03\29\1876(We) Water so high in the river we could not work. 05\10\1876(We) 130 thousand people at the exhibition at Philadelphia. Centennial opens to day. 05\11\1876(Th) P. T. Barnum's great show here to day. 35 thousand people at the centen{n}ial. 05\13\1876(Sa) Went to Litchfield. 05\14\1876(Su) Returned from Litchfield. 06\10\1876(Sa) Went to Litchfield. 06\11\1876(Su) Came home from Litchfield. 06\25\1876(Su) A storm of hailstones occur{r}ed to day, the stones about the size of walnuts. 06\27\1876(Tu) Staid home to hay it. 07\04\1876(Tu) [see separate entry] 07\08\1876(Sa) Was home sick. 07\15\1876(Sa) Went to Litchfield. 07\16\1876(Su) Came home. 08\12\1876(Sa) No water. [Other Sat entries often "No work"] 08\26\1876(Sa) No water. 09\02\1876(Sa) No water. 09\18\1876(Mo) Went to the Centen{n}ial. 09\23\1876(Sa) Came home from the Centen{n}ial. 10\15\1876(Su) About three inches of snow fell this morning. 12\04\1876(Mo) Enlisted in Company A, 2nd Reg't C.N.Y.{? C.N.J/G.} Financial records and summaries at the end. 1877 01\20\1877(Sa) Went to Litchfield. 01\29\1877(Mo) Rev. Jacob L. Clark buried to day, age 70 years. 04\02\1877(Mo) Grand Mother {Miller} died to day. Mrs. Timothy Miller. Betsy Stannard, Litchfield. 04\03\1877(Tu) Grand Mother {Miller} buried to day. See Oct. 18. 06\17\1877(Su) Went to Litchfield. 06\24\1877(Su) {Why here??} Frank H. Miller. Age 21 years Oct 21st. Charles S. Miller. Age 18 years Sept 27th. {b 1858; going on 19} Mary A. Miller. Age 15 years July 3rd. Carrie A. Miller. Age 14{?} July 23rd. Fred D. Miller. Age 13 years Oct 15th. Ivan A. Miller. Age 3 years Sept 2nd. 07\19\1877(Th) Went to Trinity Church picnic at highrock grove. 08\01\1877(We) Went to coney island. 09\14\1877(Fr) Got Mary's organ to day at Briggs & Smith. 10\12\1877(Fr) Joined the Good Tenplers {sic} in Wolcott. 10\18\1877(Th) Grand Mother Somers died to day. 10\28\1877(Su) Went to Litchfield. Financial records and summaries at the end. 1878 [some purchase of fife and drum equipment also] 04\28\1878(Su) Went to Litchfield. 12\11\1878(We) The river was so high, we could not word{sic work?}. The Naugatuck was about 14 feet above low water mark and the Seymour rail road bridge was taken away. Financial records and summaries at the end. 1879 02\05\1879(We) Went home sick. Worked 1 hr. 03\01\1879(Sa) Sick. 03\27\1879(Th) Hired out to work for David Porter to day. 03\31\1879(Mo) Worked for David G. Porter to day. In the forenoon chopp{{i}}ed near the Brass mill pond; in the afternoon tore paper in the little house on the plank road. 04\01\1879(Tu) Worked this forenoon tairing paper of{f} the walls of the house on plank road and chopping alond{sic, along?} the same road in the afternoon. [Then purchases.] 04\02\1879(We) Worked at joiner work this forenoon. Helped Lester draw wood this afternoon. {*Paid my board} 04\03\1879(Th) Worked at joiner work this forenoon and chopped after dinner. 04\04\1879(Fr) Worked this forenoon {moving} straw from the east barn to the west; in the afternoon moved straw up on the loft and drew wood from the swamp near the pond untill old De Hoor{?} broke his hoof. 04\05\1879(Sa) Worked to day chopping wood at the door.{?} Lester and Mr. Porter went to Mrs. Todd's funeral. 04\07\1879(Mo) Worked this forenoon making a bookkase{?} and chopped north of the plank road in the afternoon. 04\08\1879(Tu) Worked chopping on the north side of the plank road. Paid my board. [very large, scrawly hand!] 04\09\1879(We) Drew wood in the forenoon and worked at Joiner work in the afternoon. 04\10\1879(Th) Worked around the little house on the plank road. 04\11\1879(Fr) F{r}ost.{?} Worked at joiner work, hung a grindstone. 04\12\1879(Sa) Fixed the picket fence in front of the little house on the plank road and then chopped wood at the door, then buried a calf, then drew wood, then threw wood into the wood house. 04\14\1879(Mo) Got out manure and much{muck?}. 04\15\1879(Tu) Carted muck{?} out, built fence nerast{sic} the brook and fixed hay cutter. @Not paid my board. 04\16\1879(We) Knocked dung in the meadow{?} back of the barn and drew wood. 04\17\1879(Th) Cut hay and fixed wagon. 04\18\1879(Fr) Worked fixing a old{?} wagon and cleaning out the {*a} wagon house. 04\19\1879(Sa) Did not work. 04\22\1879(Tu) Not paid my board. 04\23\1879(We) Made a fire bord {sic} and spread muck and carted muck. Plea{sa}nt day. 04\24\1879(Th) Drove team for Leter to plow over by Mr. Lakes. A very ple{a}sant day. And {erased?} saw Dr. Swift in the afternoon and went up to the Che{st}nut Hill reserway {sic}. 04\25\1879(Fr) Made flower beds and plained sticks for grape arbors. Fair day. 04\26\1879(Sa) Carted muck and transplanted rheubarb. Fair day. 04\28\1879(Mo) Planted potatoes. A nice shower in the afternoon. 04\29\1879(Tu) Spread muck on the hill m{e}adow and fixed the fence up to scruboak. |Fair day. |Not paid my board. 04\30\1879(We) Planted potatoes over by Lakes. |Ple{a}sant day. 05\01\1879(Th) Planted potatoes. |A very ple{a}sant day. Paid my board. |Received 40 dollars. ...|Paid my board up to next Saturday night. 05\02\1879(Fr) Planted potatoes in the forenoon and plained the stuff for the grape arbor in the afternoon. |Plesant day. 05\03\1879(Sa) Fixed fence near the dry bridge and plowed Mr. Ashton's garden. |Plesant day. 05\05\1879(Mo) Set out apple trees and grape vines and sparaaron{?}. A very plesant day. 05\05\1879(Tu)-05\10\1879(Sa) Worked. {etc. in later passages} 05\12\1879(Mo) Worked in the garden. |P. T. Barnum's show in town to day. 05\13\1879(Tu) Worked in the garden. |Lester got through to day. 05\16\1879(Fr) Worked in the garden. |Had old home shoes set over {.75}. 05\17\1879(Sa) Worked plowing on the hill in the forenoon and harrowing in the afternoon. 05\29\1879(Th) Planted carrots on the hill. 05\30\1879(Fr) Planted carrots on the hill. 05\31\1879(Sa) Worked planting carrots on the hill. Paid my board up untill to night. 06\12\1879(Th) Worked. |Mr. Porter went to New York. 06\13\1879(Fr) Worked. |Broke the wagon wheel to ...{?}. 06\30\1879(Mo) Worked one half day. |Mary graguated {sic} to day. Commencde {sic?} loging{sic?} to day. 07\04\1879(Fr) Went to New Haven to day to the celebration. 07\05\1879(Sa) Paid up my board untill to night. 07\15\1879(Tu) Worked. |Received $20.00 to day leaving 2.89 to go on next month. 07\22\1879(Tu) Worked. |Ledo {sic?} away the white cow. 07\24\1879(Th) Worked 1/2 day. |Went to Trinity picnic. 08\02\1879(Sa) Worked. |Paid my board up to night $20.00 (15.36 more due). 09\10\1879(We) Weth{sic Went} to Wolcottville {sic} and drum{m}ed for the dedication of the Souldiers {sic} Monument. 09\16\1879(Tu) Drum{m}ed to day at the fair. 09\17\1879(We) Drum{m}ed at Hartford to day. 10\02\1879(Th) Hued{sic} timber for my shop. 10\07\1879(Tu) Went to Harwington {??} to the fair to drum. 10\15\1879(We) Went to Wolcott to drum to day at the fair. 10\25\1879(Sa) Worked. |Paid my board up to night. 10\27\1879(Mo) Worked on my shop. 10\28\1879(Tu) Worked for Wm Pratt. 11\01\1879(Sa) Shingled my shop. 11\05\1879(We) Werked{sic}. |Finished shingling my shop. 11\20\1879(Th) Went to Litchfield. 11\21\1879(Fr) Went to Goshen. 11\22\1879(Sa) Came home to day. |Paid my board up to night. 11\24\1879(Mo) Worked. Bought a pair of bellows and tyure{sic} iron for $11.50 of Cha's Allen. 12\09\1879(Tu) Built the chimney to my shop. 12\15\1879(Mo) Set my o....{??} block. 12\22\1879(Mo) {{*Werked}} In my shop. 12\23\1879(Tu) Fixed Ediu {?} Todd's sleigh. [Omitted various addresses and purchases, references to "worked"] Some summaries and financial records at end Work Record Pocket Diary 1887 Time Table for Board or Labor preceding Daily Memoranda 1887 01\01\{1887}(Sa) Amount due Spenser Monroe 29.34 01\15\{1887}(Sa) An account of expenses due/paid to Spenser Monroe 01\16\{1887}(Su) Fred M. Drew Ansonia{?} Get{?} 25 1886 (something pretty incomprehensible) then 2.50 01\27\{1887}(Th) Lawn{?} List Shaf 5.00 lorrigh{?}.10 b S 3.30 ____ 8.40 02\01\{1887}(Tu)-02\02\{1887}(We) List of lumber ordered with measures and prices. 02\16\{1887}(We) Lake 2 strips 3' 7" long 02\18\{1887}(Fr) Paid Harris that 10.00 (or 1000) on weekend. 02\24\{1887}(Th) James Parter gave district note for 2 man the{?} $250.00 03\05\{1887}(Sa) Fair. Recieved of George Chandler $2.00 on account, 2.00 balance left. 03\07\{1887}(Mo) Huled(hauled?or hued- hewed) 120 ft. of timber for shop. 03\08\{1887}(Tu) Had Wilson{{s}} Pi{e}rpont team 4 hr. this forenoon drawing logs from Henry Wedges. Worked huling(hauling? or huing- hewing) timber for shop hued (hewed) 132 ft. 03\09\{1887}(We) Pleasant. Hued (hewed) 149 ft. of timber. 03\10\{1887}(Th) Rainy. Hued (hewed) 68 ft. 03\11\{1887}(Fr) Windy. Hued 75 ft. Reci{e}ved of A.E.Chandy{?} 8.50 pay to date. Baught (bought) of JH Gurnesy{?} 2 nail hammers 1.25.(page ends with calculations) 03\12\{1887}(Sa) Fair. (Figures for Henry Wedge timber and John Delaney lumber) 03\14\{1887}(Mo) Cool. Wm. Purdy drew 2 loads of lumber for shop. Reci{e}ved $5.00 on account of Dennis Peck. Wm. Purdy drew one load of 3 by 4 stuff from Nor{?} Benhams in Jan. Worked full time. 03\15\{1887}(Tu) Cold. Bought of E.E. Wright 2800 bricks @ 2.00 per 1000 Wilson drew 1 load to Gafney's. 03\16\{1887}(We) Cold. Wm. Purdy drew 5 loads of lumber to day. Ordered 200 ft. of 1 1/2 spruce plank to day, 10 ft. Mr. Pryer paid $3.75 for shafts and whiffletree. 03\17\{1887}(Th) Mr. Purdy drew 2 loads of lumber. Ordered of John Gurnesey (list). Mr. Rockwood lettered Morgan{'}s wagon. Worked fraining {?} shop. 03\19\{1887}(Sa) Fair. Worked on shop. 03\20\{1887}(Su) Clear,warm. Mary and Gussy were thrown from Frank{'}s wagon at the chaple and afterwards Frank and Gussy were thrown out on the plank road near Wilson's. 03\21\{1887}(Mo) Wilson drew wood from south woods. 03\23\{1887}(We) Sold Ed Scott 183 ft. of white oak plank and plank 7 ft. long 10 in wide 3" thick= 15'-2". 03\24\{1887}(Th) Paid Milan {?} Northrope $1000 to pay for Belting. Bought a watter{water?} Seatt(or Scatt). Paid Farrell Faundry $10.15 to pay for truck wheels. 03\25\{1887}(Fr) Cold. Paid Nor{?} Morris 250 for Wm Durkee. 03\26\{1887}(Sa) Clear, cold. Recieved of Elias S. Miller $70.00 pay for services rendered.Eoal{?} Farius School Dist. Raitharius{?} A. Perkins.Reci{e}ved of DL Sammeris {?} $20.00 Panalils{?}. 03\28\{1887}(Mo) Bought of M. Loannis{?} of Pine Meadow one drum stuff{?} for $5.00. The town commenced cutting the hill down to day. 03\29\{1887}(Tu) Very cold. Worked on shop frame. 03\30\{1887}(We) Raised Shop to day. 03\31\{1887}(Th) Bargained of A.B.P. for one horse 12 years, Price 75.00. (Jack? {sic} drowned in Brass Mill Pond- 1898? {sic}) 04\01\{1887}(Fr) W. G. Brooks, Bethel. Vt. 04\02\{1887}(Sa) Dick Morgans curshan (or cursham?) 3' 7" by 14 1/2. Spenser did not work, went to Cogswells. 04\04\{1887}(Mo) Commenced tareing (tearing?) the shop down. 04\05\{1887}(Tu) George Moss brought 230 ft. of oak stripe 5" wide and 8 ft. long. The old high way barrude{?} that my shop has stood on are in a direct range of the center of James Porter's and the shear Co chimneye (chimney) the line crossing the tower also in line at right angles facing the east end of Father's barn and striking 3 ft. west of a large rock at the south end of the woods. 04\06\{1887}(We) Worked moving my shop. 04\07\{1887}(Th) Spenser Monroe's brother died to day. A.B. Pierponts act against Spenser Monroe for Mar 6.92. Spenser did not work this afternoon. 04\08\{1887}(Fr) David Prichards act $6.05, E.A.Benham $48.88.(the rest is a list of measures) 04\09\{1887}(Sa) spenser did not work. 04\11\{1887}(Mo) Worked on new shop. 04\12\{1887}(Tu) James Porter and I searched the rec{{k}}ords. At a special meeting of the School Society of Waterbury at Gathrie{?} Hall on the 20th day of April 1846 in persuance of warming{?}. Elias Cook was chosen Moderator and Willard Spenser Clerk (Pro) {sic}. Voted that the bounds lines of the East Farms District be altered in the following manner.(Near){?} (the descriptions continue on the next page 04\13) 04\13\{1887}(We) Wm Shannan died to day at noon. (continuation of previous description) Beginning at the Cheshire Line in the road leading from Waterbury to Cheshire thense {?} westerly in the line of Sch{?} Roads about 60 rods to the north Branch of the Beaver Pond Brook. Then Northly to Wolcott Line on the west side of the road leading from Wolcott to Cheshire where it crosses the Meridian Turnpike Roads, there Easterly in the line of Wolcott to Cheshire line.(continued on next page 04\14) 04\14\{1887}(Th) Drum Corps{e} met at Fred's to practice. (continuation) Then in Cheshire line to place of Beginning. Voted that all that part of the East Farms Dist. lying nirnt{?} in the above described lines be annexed to the South Distric{sic} in the town of Wolcott. Voted to d{i}ssolve this meeting.(Attest) William Spenser Clerk Pro Tem{?} 04\15\{1887}(Fr) The above is a Copy of the Records @ Proceedings of said meeting as handed to me by Willard Spenser under his hands as Clerk Pro Tem{?} Alter{?} L. P. Bryan, Clerk. (nothing else on the page however) 04\16\{1887}(Sa) Reci{e}ved of E.E. Wright $5.00 04\18\{1887}(Mo) Benhams 2 men worked 3 1/2 hr. Spenser worked 3 1/2 Snow fell 6 in deep to day. Very Cold. 04\19\{1887}(Tu) Jim worked. Spenser 8 hr. 04\20\{1887}(We) 2 of Benhams men worked to day. 04\21\{1887}(Th) 2 of Benhams men worked to day.{sic} 04\22\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked. Hotchkiss worked 4 hr. Soandland{?} worke 2 hr. 04\23\{1887}(Sa) 2 of Benhams men worked. Hotchkiss worked 4 hr. 04\24\{1887}(Su) Feb{?} Mailthrop M. F{?}hae " " M. Ha L Tetkins{?} Michael Donovan Jerry " Benjamin Fourclaigh Harry " Wm Pritchard Geo Harrison Arthur " Georg{e} Plantsville Cha's Tuttle Wm Slatten " Somers Ordered 200 ft. of 1 1/2 spruce plank to day 10 ft. H.A. Norton Cha's Yarclaigh C.S. Miller H. Dethuns{?} 04\25\{1887}(Mo) 2 of Benhams men worked. Shingled Shop. 04\26\{1887}(Tu) Spenser worked 1/2 day. 04\27\{1887}(We) 1 of Benhams men worked (Jim). 04\28\{1887}(Th) 2 of Benhams men worked. Spenser did not work. Hitchkess worked 9 hr. 04\29\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked. Hotchkiss worked 9 hrs. 04\30\{1887}(Sa) 2 of Benhams men worked. Spenser worked 1/2 day. Reci{e}ved 10.00 of Austin. Hotchkiss worked 5 hr. 05\02\{1887}(Mo) Hotchkiss worked 1 day 10 hr. A.B. Pierponts actt 8.60 Spenser Monroe. 05\03\{1887}(Tu) Jim worked 5 hr. Hotchkiss worked 9 hr. 05\04\{1887}(We) Jim worked 10 hr. 05\05\{1887}(Th) Jim worked 10 hr. Hotchkiss worked 10 hr. 05\06\{1887}(Fr) Jim worked 10 hr. (calculations below) Hotchkiss worked 10 hr. payable first Monday in June{?}. Meeting called to Order 90 shad{?} in persuance of wanng{?} James Warner chosen Moderator C.S. Miller clerk Pro. BOB South piece of woods 8 a 2 R 35{?} 05\07\{1887}(Sa) Jim worked{{e}} Hotchkiss worked 6 hr. Wolcott Drum Band meet to night and {?}oponed(postponed?) of Corps property. 05\08\{1887}(Su) on the list of 1886. Voted to pay at tax if 15 1/2 on a dollar Payable the Sixth day of June 1887. Voted to dissolve this meeting. 05\09\{1887}(Mo) Jim worked 10 hr. 05\10\{1887}(Tu) Jim worked 10 hr. Morgan paid for wagon $19.00. 05\11\{1887}(We) Jim worked 10 hr. 05\12\{1887}(Th) (page of names and calculations) 05\13\{1887}(Fr) D.C. had a sociable in my shop, about 100 Present. 05\14\{1887}(Sa) Bought 1/2 ton of coal of Miller and trickland, price $3.65. Ordered of the City Lumber and Coal Co. 700 ft. of spruce boards, 4 planks 1 1/2 by 12" 12' long. 24=1 1/4 planks 3'long 10" wide. Wm Girlley 2 pieces of pipeline .20 cts. 05\16\{1887}(Mo) Commenced working in new shop to day seeting lines for M. Bryan 2.00. Ed Holmes .40 ct. Alexander Bloamfield shot Warren Frost and then shot himself. (gun is in Museum M Hall- `43). 05\17\{1887}(Tu) Trusks 2' 3" made 2' 3" {?} (calculations) 05\20\{1887}(Fr) Jim worked. 05\21\{1887}(Sa) Jim worked. Recieved of Miles Farrell 12.00 pay for cartwheels. 05\23\{1887}(Mo) One of Benham's men worked 1/2 day. 05\25\{1887}(We) One of Benhams men worked 9 hr. Wm Grilley br By Pail and dipper .35 cts. 05\26\{1887}(Th) 2 of Benhams men worked 1/2 day, one apprentice{?}. James Parter let me have 500. 05\27\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked 10 hr., one apprentice. Had shop insured 800. 05\28\{1887}(Sa) 2 of Benhams men, one apprentice. 05\30\{1887}(Mo) Decoration Day. Horse came to day. Jack? -chestnut - black mane and tail, with a western brand (diagram) 05\31\{1887}(Tu) 2 of Benhams men worked (one apprentice). The Berlin Iron Bridge Co. (calculations). 06\01\{1887}(We) W.D. Stryker H{?} Co., 201 Grand St., N.Y. 06\02\\{1887}(Th) One of Benhams men worked. O.G. Larchild {?for next word} 06\03\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked (1 apprentice). 06\06\{1887}(Mo) Spenser did not work. Reci{e}ved of Frank Judd 10.00 on adat{?}. 06\07\{1887}(Tu) (measures) Reci{e}ved of S.L. Munson $5.00 (then a diagram) 06\09\{1887}(Th) (calculations) 06\11\{1887}(Sa) Oct. 30 Teachers Salery (salary) (calculations beneath) Wm Purdy drew Engine from Southington. 06\12\{1887}(Su) 1886 Oct. 30 by cash (calculations beneath) 06\13\{1887}(Mo) Recieved of Frank Judd 15.00 on account. 06\15\{1887}(We) Robert Wiltars{?} buy hahe{?} wheels (calculations beneath) 06\17\{1887}(Fr) Went to New Haven to day to drum for the dedication of the Sauldiers {soldier's?} Monument. 21 men furnidid{?} -East Rock- 06\20\{1887}(Mo) (listing of accounts for customers) 06\28\{1887}(Tu) 6 tight truck, 7' long, 24" mid, fist {? for next word) truck to be done in ten days, 65.00. 06\29\{1887}(We) Had fuhukey{?} same at Mayd{?} Smithe 50 cts. 1/2 hr. Got 3 pulley of Walter Scott 1-12", 1-16", 1-9 1/2". 1 piece of shafting 4" long with suplin{?} on an end. (calculations beneath) Oscar Fairchild came to day. Oscar Fairchild came to board today. 06\30\{1887}(Th) Wm. E. Hustin Buy Aut{?} Bill $10.00. Greely Aut 70 cts. my due. 07\12\{1887}(Tu) M. Rockwood No. 136 N{?}fainsly. 07\14\{1887}(Th) (listing of order to/from Randolph B. Clows and measures) 07\18\{1887}(Mo) Mr. Fairchild came to day. 07\23\{1887}(Sa) (calculation) Johnson's bill 3.67. Paid Cha's Clark 196.33 for Engine. 100. bill Waterbury National. 07\25\{1887}(Mo) Baught of Clark Bros Mill Dale a lot of washers for 1.50, paid 1.00. 07\26\{1887}(Tu) John Northrop painted our shop. 07\27\{1887}(We) Clyde taken sick. Doctor came. 07\28\{1887}(Th) Doctor came. 07\29\{1887}(Fr) Doctor came. 07\31\{1887}(Sa) Doctor came. 08\01\{1887}(Mo) Doctor came. 08\02\{1887}(Tu) Doctor came. John Northrop painted on shop. 08\03\{1887}(We) Spenser Monroe act 7.07 for July, for June 7.34, for May 5.48. 08\04\{1887}(Th) Doctor came. George Edwards Fred Miller Cha's Miller Robert Spenser Spruce Chas Fenton (calculations below) 08\05\{1887}(Fr) Northrop painted shop, balance due him 10.30. 08\07\{1887}(Su) Doctor came. 08\08\{1887}(Mo) Ed Holmes worked. Bill 8.50. 08\11\{1887}(Th) Buckingham Fred Miller Roalik{?} Lewis Cross {Crass?} Somers Cha's Miller Buyers 08\12\{1887}(Fr) Bauch{?} of dues. Fed{?} pay on said table for 12.00. 32 ft of 4" leather {?for next word} for $7.00. One 12" saw 2.00. 08\13\{1887}(Sa) Reci{e}ved of D.G. Porter $15.00. J.{?} A. Spenser br by 1 bag oats, 1 saw{?} $2.70. 08\16\{1887}(Tu) William left to day. 08\18\{1887}(Th) Edward Spruce Crass Boath (Booth?) Wright Lenor's Miller Smith Hordoy Clark Miernam{?} 08\19\{1887}(Fr) Caris Frost worked laying floor for engine. 08\20\{1887}(Sa) Frost worked. Spenser went to Seaside Park. 08\23\{1887}(Tu) Frost worked 08\22\{1887}(Mo) Frost worked. 09\03\{1887}(Sa) (list of accounts with continuation on next page) 09\04\{1887}(Su) (same list) 09\06\{1887}(Tu) Yardan Barton Spinner Boaths Lents{?} Buyers Lenoir{?} M. Miller Cauley{?} Cross Miller Old Mr. Fairchild cam{sic} to board to day @ 4.00. 09\08\{1887}(Th) Fire Parade. Did not work this afternoon. Fire Parade. 09\13\{1887}(Tu) Clark Wright Booth Spruce Barton (this is the probably the right list) Edwards Buyers Norton Samers Cross Lewis 09\14\{1887}(We) J. H. Samers{?} Wheels (then measures) 09\15\{1887}(Th) Old man Fairchild worked chopping wood to day. 09\17\{1887}(Sa) Fairchild worked 1/4 day. 09\19\{1887}(Mo) Spenser went to Kent to day. 09\20\{1887}(Tu) Paid Mr. Blakewell{?} 10.00 Farrell Faundrys 29.04 City Lumber and Coal Co. 29.53 10\01\{1887}(Sa) Oscar left boarding to day. 10\02\{1887}(Su) Joe came to see horse. 10\03\{1887}(Mo) William Miller came to work and to board to day at 3.50 per week. Frank moved from Wrights to day. Oscar moved from Ansonia to day into Wrights house. 10\04\{1887}(Tu) Spenser Monroe bill for Sept. 8.91. 10\07\{1887}(Fr) Mr. Fairchild help dig Patalaes{?} this forenoon. 10\11\{1887}(Tu) Barton Booth Fanton Cross F. Miller Smith Lewis Samers Buckingham Edwards 10\19\{1887}(We) Robert Welton bought axle of Goodmin. 10\24\{1887}(Mo) Mr Payne let me have $10.00 on account. 10\25\{1887}(Tu) James Sutton bought 4 cider barrels. 10\26\{1887}(We) Oscar Fairchild went selling rings to Bristol. Wright took the white horse away. 10\29\{1887}(Sa) H.W. Lakes bill 8.24. Spenser worked 1/4 day. Paid Spenser 5.00. 10\31\{1887}(Mo) Visited school to day. 11\01\{1887}(Tu) H.W.Lakes carriage came to day. 11\03\{1887}(Th) Monroes bill $13.28 to A.P.P. 11\04\{1887}(Fr) Gave bar 1.50 change from door. 11\14\{1887}(Mo) Spenser worked 1/2 day. Owe Wm. for 3 weeks. 11\16\{1887}(We) Henry Carter saw me to day about the pay for the band. 11\18\{1887}(Fr) John Delaney bill $6.36. 11\19\{1887}(Sa) Paid Spenser 7.00. 11\20\{1887}(Su) (Measures and price for a "driver pulley" and saw) 11\21\{1887}(Mo) Spenser Monroe did not work. Went to Bristol to buy saw this forenoon. 11\23\{1887}(We) Spenser worked this forenoon. 11\26\{1887}(Sa) Spenser did not work. 11\28\{1887}(Mo) Spenser worker{sic} nine hours. 11\30\{1887}(We) (measures and diagram) 12\01\{1887}(Th) Paid M. Welton. Drum Corps Note{?}. 12\02\{1887}(Fr) (listing of accounts) Paid Will 5.00. 12\03\{1887}(Sa) 5 weeks pay due Will to night, less 5.00 due 12.50. 12\10\{1887}(Sa) Mr. Frost worked 8 hr. Turned counter shafts. Paid Spenser 4.75. 12\12\{1887}(Mo) Spenser worked 4 hr. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. Bored out sollars{?} and pulleys. 12\14\{1887}(We) Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. 12\15\{1887}(Th) Paid L.L. Eusworth $70.00. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. 12\16\{1887}(Fr) Paid Wallace{?} Northrop $5.00. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. 12\17\{1887}(Sa) Reci{e}ved of H.M. Geake 5.00 on account. Paid Spenser $5.00. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. Paid Wm. Miller 12.00. 12\19\{1887}(Mo) Paid Wm. Miller 5.00. 12\21\{1887}(We) (measures and diagram) 12\22\{1887}(Th) (measures and diagram) 12\23\{1887}(Fr) (measures con't) 12\24\{1887}(Sa) Wm. Purdus wood came 5.66. 12\26\{1887}(Mo) Christmas 12\31\{1887}(Sa) Paid Spenser 500{5.00?} Cash Account in the back with a few names and figures. The rest (expenses, notes and bills, etc.) is blank. In the back compartment, there are three IOU notes and a slip of paper with calculations of accounts on it. The Standard Diary 1888 Preceded by an 1888 Calendar and Almanac section. Both the front and back covers have calculations written in pencil on them; the front has "Cha's S. Miller, Waterbury, Conn." written in pencil. 01\15\{1888}(Su) Used 35 gals of oil from 49 1/2 gal tanks. 03\02\{1888}(Fr) Spenser filed D.G. Partners saw for .50. 03\04\{1888}(Su) Spenser came home from Beacon Falls this fore noon. Worked afternoon. 03\06\{1888}(Tu) Commensed{sic] taking milk of Wilson. 03\08\{1888}(Th) (listing of accounts) Schwegal let S. Monroe have the Cha's Monroe place for 8.00 per month. 03\07\{1888}(Fr) Paid School Teacher $64.00. 03\12\{1888}(Mo) Snowed all day and night. 03\13\{1888}(Tu) Snowed all day. 03\14\{1888}(We) Snow 3 ft deep an leavel{sic} and drifts as high as 20 feet all rail road trains stoped{sic}. 03\15\{1888}(Th) Spenser worked. 03\16\{1888}(Fr) Spenser worked. (listing of supplies) 03\17\{1888}(Sa) (measures of wagon to be made, with diagram) 03\18\{1888}(Su) (diagram con't) Wm Miller got through working to day. 03\19\{1888}(Mo) (supply list) 03\21\{1888}(We) Reci{e}ved of C.S. Miller $41.56 Payment in full to date (followed by signature) 03\22\{1888}(Fr) Hattie Pierpont came home from {?}alafornig{?} 04\15\{1888}(Su) (listing of accounts) 04\18\{1888}(We) (listing of accounts) 04\24\{1888}(We) Reci{e}ved of C.S. Miller 14.15 payment in full to date (signature? by Wm Durkee) 05\10(10-11)\{1888} C.S.Miller, Piman{?} Smith, Ed Smith, Samers, Clark, Marram{?}, Kilbaum{?}, Boath, Cross, Edwards. 05\22\{1888}(Tu) Ed Johnson buried to day. Spenser worked 4 hr. 05\24\{1888}(Th) Stock holders train run over the Meridan Waterbury and Com{?} River railroad Run from waterbury{sic} to Meriden in 45 minutes. 05\27\{1888}(Tu) (someone else's handwriting) Charles F. Wayner, Westfield, Mass. 06\07\{1888}(Th) (listing of accounts) 06\08\{1888}(Fr) Ed Holmes Plowing{?} Rifle (figures) 06\21\{1888}(Th) H.W. Lakes bill 14.49. 06\24\{1888}(Su) Drove to west Haven and oyster river with Clyde and Mary. Very warm. 06\26\{1888}(Tu) Ben Harrison nominated for President and for vice President. S. Monroe worked this fore noon. 06\27\{1888}(We) Iron body from Trucks made for Randolf and Caloms (measures) Mr. F. L. Adams, H.B.O.H. 06\28\{1888}(Th) H.B.O.H. ordered (list) (One loose page with accounts on it) 07\05\{1888}(Th) (list of supplies) 07\06\{1888}(Fr) Give Mr. Bradley reci{e}pt for booth{?} money and indu{?for rest of word} 07\09\{1888}(Mo) First trains run on the Meridan Waterbury and Comm River Rain road. 07\11\{1888}(We) {? for this entry} 07\12\{1888}(Th) Judd and Judsons (measures and diagram ) 07\13\{1888}(Fr) (measures con't) 07\20\{1888}(Fr) (measures) 07\21\{1888}(Sa) Father and I went to Cheshire to day on the New rail road. 07\22\{1888}(Su) (diagram) 07\25\{1888}(We) Spenser worked 1/2 day. 07\26\{1888}(Th) (diagram and measures for wagon) 07\27\{1888}(Fr) (measures con't) 07\31\{1888}(Tu) Tawns discount{?} $9.60. 08\01\{1888}(We) Saw Mr. Fardon this noon at Scovills. Promised to meet me at PO 7 o'clock next tuesday{sic} evening. 08\09\{1888}(Th) Went to Bridgeport to foresters parade. 08\10\{1888}(Fr) Mathan. Merwin. 08\11\{1888}(Sa) Judd and Judson ordered wagon 1 1/2 axle platform spring for $150.00. 08\12\{1888}(Su) Wm Durkee came to work this noon @ 3.00. Post man came to the new mail box to day. 08\18\{1888}(Sa) Mr. Logan ordered farm wagon $65.00. 08\31\{1888}(Fr) (list of orders) 09\01\{1888}(Sa) (another order) 09\03\{1888}(We) Went to Middletown to Drummer's convention. 09\16\{1888}(Su) Spenser came Home from Kent. 09\25\{1888}(Tu) Distance from Waterbury to East Litchfield 18 miles. 10\13\{1888}(Sa) George Sprague bill for 7.00. Sons of veterans and Mattatuck Drum Corps had clam bake at my shop. 10\14\{1888}(Su) Frank and Gussy stayed at our house. 10\16\{1888}(Tu) {? for this entry} 10\17\{1888}(We) Mr.Wright butchered 8 hogs. 10\22\{1888}(Mo) (listing of orders ) 10\25\{1888}(Th) H.B.C.H. ordered 2 mill trucks @ 30. 10\31\{1888}(We) Had Republican Parade in new Britan to night.{sic} 11\01\{1888}(Th) Had Republican parade in Litchfield to night. 11\08\{1888}(Th) Republicans had big parade to night. 11\10\{1888}(Sa) (diagram) Paid Wm up to day. 11\22\{1888}(Th) Painted shop, it took-(list of materials) 11\23\{1888}(Fr) Painted windows in shop. 11\24\{1888}(Sa) Northrop paid .75 cts. on rifle. 11\25\{1888}(Su) Snow fell 4" deep, first snow of the season. 11\28\{1888}(We) Drum Corps owe me $6.16. I owe the Drum Corps $7.84. 11\29\{1888}(Th) Cha's Tues{?} ordered wagon 140.00. 12\03\{1888}(Mo) (accounting) 12\04\{1888}(Tu) Went to South Britan and got 6 yards of cloth for shirts of .70 cts. per yard, also 12 skiynes of yarn @ .20 per Sham{?}. (calculations at end) 12\05\{1888}(We) Ordered 1 ton of soft coal. 12\07\{1888}(Fr) (accounts) 12\08\{1888}(Sa) (listing of supplies) 12\17\{1888}(Mo) (diagram) 12\26\{1888}(We) J{?}tohans ordered business wagon $150.00. In the memoranda section there is the note: Mr. Fairchild dug potatoes. Oct. 8th 1 day Oct. 11th 6 hr. There is also a keeping of cash accounts in the back section. The American Diary 1889 On the inside and back covers, there are measures and calculations in pencil. There is also an almanac section, addresses and memoranda section, and a timetable for board or labor in the front. The addresses and memoranda section contains the addresses of: Mrs. Lidia Chipman, No 51 Central Av{e}, Eddie Lyons, Sheffeld Mass., and Perre Surprenant, No 323 Bank St. City. The timetable for board or labor is also filled out with the names of Mike, Durkee, Monroe, and Munson{?}. 01\06\{1889}(Su) Signed a note for Spenser Monroe for 200. Payable in two years. from date. 02\06\{1889}(We) (description of a purchase of a quantity of oak wood) 02\07\{1889}(Th) (same sort of description, purchase by Luther Bradley) 02\09\{1889}(Sa) Durkee Paid up till to night. 02\18\{1889}(Mo) (measures of ordered rivits, iron, and tire bolts of L.L. Eusworth) 02\19\{1889}(Tu) (more orders made) 02\20\{1889}(We) (diagram and measures) 02\23\{1889}(Sa) Sessions Sent 27 wheels. 02\24\{1889}(Su) Mary had a girl at 9:30 to night. Margaret M.N. Hall. 02\25\{1889}(Mo) (another order of L.L. Eusworth) 02\26\{1889}(Tu) (another order of L.L. Eusworth) 02\27\{1889}(We) (another series of measures) 03\02\{1889}(Sa) Mr Rice of Cheshire ordered a new 2 horse wagon simular to Robert Minors for $100.00 with hay rigging. 03\03\{1889}(Su) Mrs. Nettleton got through to day. 03\15\{1889}(Fr) Paid Durkee 2.50 half cord of wood. Borrowed 35.00 of Jas Parter. 03\16\{1889}(Sa) Mrs. Pratt came to do house work to day. 03\19\{1889}(Tu) Luther Bradley by {sic} 160 ft of oak and ash{?}. 03\20\{1889}(We) (figures) Paid Durkee 6.15 one ton of coal. 03\21\{1889}(Th) Paid Durkee 2.00 for book 10.00 cash. 03\22\{1889}(Fr) (another purchase by Luther Bradley) 03\25\{1889}(Mo) (a purchase by George Alexander) 03\26\{1889}(Tu) (an order by A.R. Pierpont) 03\27\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee 6.00 on books. 04\02\{1889}(Tu) O{?} L. Fairchild commenced paying rent to day 3.00 per month. 04\06\{1889}(Sa) Paid Durkee 50 cash. 04\07\{1889}(Su) Paid Durkee 90 in rake and hoe. 04\09Tu) Paid Durkee 2.00 on G.B. Hitchcock account. 04\13\{1889}(Sa) Owe Wm 13.61. 04\17\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee 1.00 cash. 04\22\{1889}(Mo) Mr. Melbourne came to work to day @ 1.50. (measures) 04\24\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee 5.00 he bought 3.12 worth Gracrues{?} of Spenser @ Pierpont. George Mass and Wm. Clark Den Peck and Ed Wallace worked on addition to shop. 04\25\{1889}(Th) Paid Durkee 2.00 to Pay for books. Den Peck and Edgar Wallace worked to day. 04\26\{1889}(Fr) Charged Durkee 1.00 for Mashiers {?} boxes. 05\04\{1889}(Sa) Paid Durkee 3.00 cash. 05\07\{1889}(Tu) Paid Durkee 2.00 cash. 05\09\{1889}(Th) (measures) 05\10\{1889}(Fr) (list with figures) 05\11\{1889}(Sa) (list with figures) Paid Fred Miller payment 2.00 for drum wheele. Bought of P.S. Wedgr{sic} in 1886. Paid Durkee 3.00 cash. 05\13\{1889}(Mo) (list of clothing) 05\14\{1889}(Tu) Bought of the Alwater Manufacturing Co. a lot of hardware for 13.75 and of H.D. Smith a lot for 2.09. Paid Wm. Durkee 10.00 cash. 05\17\{1889}(Fr) Spenser did not work to day. 05\21\{1889}(Tu) (listing of accounts) 05\22\{1889}(We) (measures) 05\27\{1889}(Mo) Owe Henry munson last week's pay and week before last, and week before that. Owe Tom last week and 8.00 on week before that. 06\03\{1889}(Mo) (measures) 06\08\{1889}(Sa) Paid Durkee 1.00 cash, paid Durkee 100 on S.P. Bronson's account. 06\09\{1889}(Su) Michael Burns ordered wagon 50. 06\10\{1889}(Mo) (measures) 06\19\{1889}(We) (listing of accounts) 07\02\{1889}(Tu) (listing of order from George Alexander) 07\09\{1889}(Tu) Paid Durkee 7.00 on Kellogge account. 07\10\{1889}(We) Shop 23" long 07\15\{1889}(Mo) {?} with {?} 16.25 due fines. 07\16\{1889}(Tu) Paid Durkee 1.00 cash. 07\17\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee.50 cts. cash. 08\02\{1889}(Fr) {? for this entry... for wooden pulleys} 08\21\{1889}(We) Paid Jame{?} Reed $10.00 for Rent an John Thackerie{'}s House. 09\12\{1889}(Th) (listing of accounts) 09\19\{1889}(Th) Paid Spenser Monroe 21.00 to pay months wages. 09\21\{1889}(Sa) CW Hall, Bridgeport, Con. 10\11\{1889}(Fr) (listing of measures) 10\12\{1889}(Sa) (listing of orders) 11\30\{1889}(We) Borrowed 22. of Harman Payne to be paid by the 30th of Nov. (Paid) 11\22\{1889}(Fr) Engaged Led{?} coal of Mr. Wood at 4.75 per ton. 11\24\{1889}(Su) The freight train went out on the Meridian Waterbury to Conn River RQ {?} this morning with 25 cars the longest train I ever saw on that road and the longest I think that ever passed over it drawn by one engine. 11\27\{1889}(We) Tried to settle with Oscar Fairchild to day. 11\28\{1889}(Th) Thanks giving day the water in the streams was higher than it has been before in 20 years many bridges was washed away and the water on south main st and exchange place was 2 ft deep.{sic} 12\16\{1889}(Mo) (listing of orders) 12\25\{1889}(We) A remarkably warm day more like May than Dec. weather so warm a man would sweat without an overcoat in the evening. I heard several moskitoes{sic} buzzing about the house. A full cash account section in the back section, with a pencilled calculation on the inside of the back cover. [[Charles Somers Miller 1890 small workbook]] Front flyleaf, upper right hand corner (price?): M 69 Chas S Miller Jan 1 1890 In the section "Addresses and Memoranda" the following names are listed with addresses: Suderberg G{?} Pulson J H Baird John T Danovan{Donovan?} John Megher F D Miller O. A. Beckwith Aldin S Wood Henry A Makepeace Fred S Kimball Frank C Bradford R S Wells C S Wells W A Rice S S Hougton Milliard{?} Barnes{?} J A Squires L B Moore Fred S Kimball In the section "Time Table for Board or Labor" names and figures are listed for each month, apparently amounts paid to each person: Melbourn{?} Welton Nettleton Munson --- Melbarn{Melhorn?} Welton Nettleton --- Melbaurn{?} Welton Nettleton --- [[the last 3 names are repeated in the 3 sets (April-May-June; July-Aug.-Sept.) on the next two pages, then again on the following page but with "Tom" instead of Melbourn/Milbourn/etc.]] 01\06\1890 (Monday) George E Nettleton came to work{worke!} for me to day at 1 00{?} and board per day 01\14\1890 (Tuesday) Moved bailer 01\16\1890 (Thursday) Mr. Charles Kingsbury died to day Aged 95 years the oldest man in town 01\19\1890 (Sunday) I stayed home all day Mary took Clyde and Irving to the Chapel and then went to see their Grand mother at uncle Geanine's{?} Cha's Belding and his girl t___d{tiped?} over in front of the house at 1 o'clock to night 01\20\1890 (Monday) Wrote to Barney & Berry for Georg Nettleton to day 02\06\1890 (Thursday) Mr. Munson came to paint Wright's Carriag_{carriage?} in my shop to day 02\07\1890 (Friday) A great blizzard predicti__{prediction?} for to day. It snowed a little in the wven ing{,?} and rained hard all night 02\10\1890 (Monday) Wrote to Fred at New Haven To have potatoes beets and other vegtables that grow{growe!} in the ground do well plant them in the old of the moon{moan!}. And beans peas and o c{?} that grow above ground do well plant in the new of the moon 02\14\1890 (Friday) Mr. Frost harrow teeth{teith?} 11 1/2" 4" from end middle and{an!} 10 1/2 to end from tooth. Mr. Gunn of Prospect gave me his Saladee buggy for 3.00 to be paid in work{workl!} and .60 an old account. 02\16\1890 (Sunday) James{Janes?} Suttan{?} ___{?} 1 tank 8'x3'3"x2'6" 02\22\1890 (Saturday) Ice{?} is about 4" thick an{and? on? at?} the pond's{ponds!} thickest it has been this year, there has not been three day in succession that one _ould{could?} not have plowed since last summer{?}. 02\26\1890 (Wednesday) {entry difficult to read} Georgr{George?} Alexander __{br?} By 171 ft plank{ptank!} at .023 3/4 {or .03 3/4?} .03 5.13 03\09\1890 (Sunday) Mary went to the Chapel{Chaple!} with Clyde and Irvin{Irving?} and then went up to Uncle{uncle?} Le__es{Lewis?}. 04\15\1890 (Tuesday) Uncle Levinuss Warner{?} was buried to day. Dr. Rooland{?} officiated Austin B Pierpont Chas J Pierpont Elmer E Pierpont Wilson L Pierpont Chas, Branuis{?} and myself{mysilf!} were pall bearers{barers!} Uncle Levinuss{Lvinus!} was aged 81 year and 8 months. 04\16\1890 (Wednesday) Ordered of James{Jamis!} Harry one{oni!} set of wheels Price $9.00 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 04\22\1890 (Tuesday) Paur_ton{?} made eaves for Dr. Benedict's top $4.05 Paid 05\14\1890 (Wednesday) Weather, Warm Worked digging for my{ny!} Stor_{Store?} _ank_{banke?} to-day Had, Fred{F'red!} Wetton 1.00 Tom Melborn{Milbaum?} 1.50 George Nettleton{?} 1.75 Mr. Chas Hotchkiss 1 50 (underlined) ____ 5 75 05\15\1890 (Thursday) Weather, Rained 5 hr Drew stone and laid wall for store house Had Chas Hotchkiss 3.00 George Nettleton 1.75 Italian{?} 1.25 team 3.75 (underlined) ____ 9.75 05\16\1890 (Friday) Weather, Rained Laid cellar wall Mr. Chas Hotchkiss 3.00 Fred wit_an{?} 1.00 ____ 4.00 Lime 1.75 Cement{Cewent!} 1.75 ____ 7.50 My time{?} 6.00 9.75 5.75 ____ 29.00 Stour{?} 7 00 _____ 36 00 05\18\1890 (Sunday) Weather, Fair G. W. Connor, Myself A B Pierpont C J Pierpon_{Pierpont?} W L Pierpont{?} had Mark Warner show us the bounds around the estate of Levnus{?} Warner. Land estimat__{estimated?} to be from 250{or 25.0?} to 300 acres{acors!} app__sed{appraised?} at $3.200.00 including buildings 05\22\1890 (Thursday) Tom and Fred staid home to hoe potatoes all day 05\23\1890 (Friday) Paul Hesphlt{?} planted my potatoes for $1.75 05\24\1890 (Saturday) I told John R Platt that I would put new wheels on his wagon{wagan!} for 22.00 New axles 7.00 pole 1.25 Rubber c__stnan{?} 3.75 Paint 10.00 _____ 44 00 Mattatuck Drum Corps{Carps!} had a meeting this{tohis!} evening I was elected Leader _.{?} E. Edwards assistant Leader James Elliot Sec Henry Buckingham Treasurer Present Miles Booth " Gardner. Hall. " H d Norton{?} " Fred Kilbourn{?} " H Buckingham C. Miller J Elliott J.{?} Hall Miles Booth{Baoth?} We are Engaged to play decoration{decorathan!} day 05\26\1890 (Monday) Went to see Carley and Jerry Danovan for the Crum Corps{Carps!} let Jerry take L L Oviatt's{?} book 05\27\1890 (Tuesday) Had Crum Corps{Carps!} meeting to night Present Sinion Cmith " Myself " Henry Buckingha_{Buckingham?} " Miles Booth " Gardner Hall " Fred Kilbaum " Luke Henderson 05\28\1890 (Wednesday) Wm Austin{?} Ca{?} By Cash $5.00 05\30\1890 (Friday) Drum Corps turned out for Wadhoms{?} Past G A R{?} Those who turned out men R. Carley{?}. Luke Hinderson{?} Simon Smith A H Norton Fred Kilbaum{?}. C.S. Miller. J Buckingham. Miles Booth Gardener Hall 05\31\1890 (Saturday) Had D.C. Meeting{Meettng!} I handed in my resignation{rezag_nation!} 06\01\1890 (Sunday) Batanere{?} Due Thomas Melbaurn{Melbourn?} 32.57 Old iron 26.10 _____ $5_ 67 {57.67? or 58.67?} Corrected Batance{Balance?} due You{?} 39.26 iron 26.10 _____ 65.36 Paid p__{?} 21 ft 32{.?}5.7 06\06\1890 (Friday) City Lumber & Coal Co Dimensions of lumber wagon Back axle 2 1/4 solid collar for 10" hub welded 4' 4"{?} bolster 4' 4" on bottom{botton!} 7" wide 2 1/4" thick projects 2 1/2{?} over{?} hub face of b stake{?} 4" fron{front? from?} end of hub stokes 17" high 2 1/4x3" at bottom 1 1/2 at top banded with{?} 1 1/2x3/8 iron. 2 clips an{on?} back axle make from 1 x 5/16 iron let in at top so a_{ap?} piece of band iron can be screwed on{an!} Reached 2X4 top a__{are? an?} 10' 6" long in to in bottom are{arie!} 9' 3" bold 8 1/2" from back end Sliding{Slideing!} plate and{ard!} pin close to end of hound other sliding plate four and{ard!} 1/4" from front end of bottom reach center of holes plates of 2 1/2 band iron fastened with 2-5/16 bolts 06\07\1890 (Saturday) Hounds/Haunds{?} 3' 1'{1"?} long 2" thick mortised{,?} in bed 8 1/2" from reach braces from clips cane{?} on to hounds of 5/8 iron side braces from stake clips take some bo___{bolts?} as holds the hounds Front Axle bed 4' 4" long 2 1/4 " thick 4 1/4" high plates 18" long Front Axle 2" solid collar for 10" hub cliped at shackles and half way from plate to shackles. Front{.?} bolster 4' 9"{?} long 5 1/2" wide 2 1/4" thick stakes same as back iron L an{and? on?} bolster 3 bolts in stake and 2 in bolster{.?} Ring bolts{?} 4 ring bolts inside of bolster stakes Plates 18" long 5/8 thick 2 1/4 wide T 18" long D 1 1/2x5/8. king C{?} brace 1 1/2X5/8. 06\08\1890 (Sunday) {Is this entry for 06\08\1890 or a continuation of the entry on the previous page?} brace an{on? and?} reach to front bolster 1 1/2 x 3/8 Shafts 3 1/4 X 1 3/4 bar 18" from butt 7' from front of bar to end of shaft_{shafts?} Whfflitree{?} 3' x 1 3/4 tires 1/2" thick Out side{2 words?} hub bands 2 1/2 x 1/8{?} band iron ____________________________ Drum Corp Mat__{Matin?} called to{ta!} order at 8.30 Present Miles Boot_{Booth?} G. Hall Chas S Miller Fred Kilbourne{?}. Henderson{?} Mas_ier{Mashier?} 06\20\1890 (Friday) {entry is difficult to read} Res___d of A M Rver{?} $20.00{?} Pa_{?} __{?} wa_o_{wagon?} 06\21\1890 (Saturday) Paid Tomas Melborn{?} $32.57 pay in full for work to ju___{?} 1 ft 1890{'1890!} 07\01\1890 (Tuesday) Had School meeting Frank Judd elected carmeette_{committee?} Wm Austin clerk Luthur Bradley{?} Treasurer Decided to hav_{have?} flag __{on?} the school house 07\17\1890 (Thursday) George Nettleton stayed home sick 08\09\1890 (Saturday) Mr. Carter busin__{business?} wagon body 7" deep 5' 9" wood clash{?} Pampl{?} seat back 10" above back pannel of{?} seat 08\22\1890 (Friday) George Nettleton{?} Went to East Haven 08\25\1890 (Monday) Mr. Munson{?} gave me 5.00 on{an!} account 3.50 due George Nettleton{?} came home from East Haven 08\27\1890 (Wednesday) {entry is difficult to read} stopped Pastur__g{Pasturing?} ho__{?} in ___{the?} Parters{Pasture?} _______{?} 09\09\1890 (Tuesday) Width of _______{suttons?} shackle_{shackles?} 3' 5" shackles 1 1/4 x 1/2" bots{bolts} 09\19\1890 (Friday) This page has several numbers added in a mathematical equation 09\20\1890 (Saturday) I left home to day at 7 o'clock for a pleasure trip and drove to to{written twice} Bristol 12 miles then to Forest ville 3 miles then to plainville 2 miles, then to Unionville 8 miles then to Collinsville 4 miles then fed horse at 2 P.M. and went to Canton 1 mile {Is "mile" inserted at end of line?} ____{then? Is "then" inserted at the beginning of the line?} Simbsbury 10 m {is "m" inserted after "10"?} then to Tar_ffni_le{?} 7 miles{,?} then East Gramby 4 miles and staid over sunday with Mr. John La Fluer{?}. 09\21\1890 (Sunday) Went to Old Newgate Prison and West Suffield Feeding horse .25 stamps (20th) .04 Lodging in _____{house?} 1.50 ____ Newgate .20 Beef Sept 22"{?} .13 har__{?} .35 _aper{Paper?} .07 Maps .75 ___ horse 1 00 {$1.00?} myself (23) 1 00 {$1.00?} ____ (24) 5.29 Board for horse 75 " " " 75 feed " " 20 " " " 05 (25) R R FAir _____ 2.7_{2.74?} Sindr__s{Sindrives?} 26 (26) board _____{?} 2.00 ____ (2) " 2 00 rep watch 1 00 ____ oats 25 ____ (3) board{baard?} 75 4) " 1 25 "{?} lunch 10 {.10?} ____ 12.1_{12.10?} 09\22\1890 (Monday) I drove to Copper hill 3 miles then to Feeding hill 10 miles then to Springfield .4{4?} miles then to Chicapll{?} 5 __les{miles?} then to Chicapee{?} falls 3 miles than to South Hadley Falls 4 miles then South Hadley 3 miles and Stayed with Mr. Joseph Miller _____ (5) board{baard!} 1.50 _____ 6 " 1.25 lunch .14 _____ (6) Board 1 00 (7) " 1 00 _____ (8) " 2 00 _____ (9) " 1 56{?} lunch .16 _____ 10 Board 1.7_{1.75?} Postage{Pastage!} .02 11 board{baard!} 1 50 12 bard{board?} 1 50 feed 28 lunch 20 13 bard{board?} 1 00 _____ 14 80 Mathematical equation is on this page 09\23\1890 (Tuesday) I left South{Sauth!} Hadley this morning and drove to Hadley to North Hadley to Sunderland to M_ntog__{Mantogen?} to Mills Falls to Northfield Farms to Northfield to winchester the whole being 37 1/2 miles 09\24\1890 (Wednesday) I left Winchester at 7 oclock{oclox!} and drove to Kein{?} passing through Westport{?} and{an!} West Swanzey 13 1/2 __les{miles?} t__n{then?} drove to Marlborough to Chesham to Harrisville to E Harnsville to Hancock 20 miles 33 1/2 miles to day Stopped at the house of Mr. Aldin S Wood. 09\25\1890 (Thursday) Went to day from Hancock to Concord by rail and returned at night to Mr. Woods 09\26\1890 (Friday) to day I left Hancock at 10.45 o'clock and we_t{went?} to Stoddard 9 miles then to Marlow{?} 8 miles then to Lemster{?} 7"{?} 2_{24?} miles to day {mathematical equation on this page} 09\27\1890 (Saturday) I left Semster and Passed through Unity to Newport 13 1/2 miles from Newport I drove through Croudon{?} to _rantham{Grantham?} then to Endfield NH 27{27.?} miles and stayed with Mr. Fred S Kimball on{an!} shaker hill 09\28\1890 (Sunday) Stayed at Fred Kimball_{Kimball's?} 09\29\1890 (Monday) Stayed{Staryed!} at Fred Kimball's 09\30\1890 (Tuesday) Stayed at Fred Kimball's 10\01\1890 (Wednesday) Stayed at Fred Kimball's and dug Potatoes. 10\02\1890 (Thursday) Oscar Carr is at Fort Payne Al Burning lime has 16 Negroes at work. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I drove{draw?} from Endfield to lebanon{?} to Hanover{?} to lime to Oxford{Orford!} 32 miles 10\03\1890 (Friday) Drove from Oxford{Orford!} to Pierpont then to Bradford Vt then to Corinth then to west Topsham{?}, the distance from Corinth to W{?} Topsham is eight miles{,?} but I got lost in the mountain and drove over 12 miles The whole distance being 27 miles 10\04\1890 (Saturday) Drove from West Topsham to Orange{Oorange!} then to Barri then to Montpelier{Mantpelier!} to Middlesex then waterbury where I am stopping with Mr. Phillips{?} at th__{the?} Villeage house The distance traveled is 32 miles 10\05\1890 (Sunday) drove from Waterbury village to Waterbury center then to Bolton{Baltan?} th__{the? then?} whole{whol!} being 12 miles. 10\06\1890 (Monday) drove from Bolton to Jones ville{Jonesville?} to Richmond{?} to Williston to Birlington then to Shilbourn to Charlotte{Charlotti!}{.?} 38 miles {mathematical equation on this page} 10\07\1890 (Tuesday) Am at Crown Pa__t{?} drove through Shellaine{?} Ferrisburgh Panton and Addison to Chimny Point distance 28 miles 10\08\1890 (Wednesday) Visited Crown Point{Paint!} Fort Frederick and Fort Amerest{?} Drove through{through!} Bridport{?} and Shorhan_{Shorhanx?} to Garrabees Point{Paint!} distance 22 miles 10\09\1890 (Thursday) Drove from Larabees Point to Orwell then to Hortonville to Hubbard ton{Hubbardton?} E Hubbar__{Hubbarth?} and Castleton. 23 miles Stopping at the Boamoseen House 10\10\1890 (Friday) Drove from Castleton to Manchester. Passing through Ruttand Clorendon Wallingford S Wallingford Mr Tabor{Tabos?} N Dorset E Dorset 52 miles Stopping at Thayers Hobl{?} 10\11\1890 (Saturday) Left Manchester and drove to South Pawnall Passing through Sunderland Arlington Shaftsbury South Shaftsbury Bennington Pawned{Powned?} Distance 41 miles Saw Bennington monument 301 ft hight 38 ft square at bace{base?} made of stone cost $200,000.00{?} 10\12\1890 (Sunday) Left Pawnal and Drove to Cheshire Mass by way of Vermont Williamston Blackington North Adans{Adams?} Adams Maple Grove, Cheshire{Cheshre!} Harbor. Distance 22 miles 10\13\1890 (Monday) Drove from Cheshin{?} to Fryingham{Tryingham?} by way of Berkshire Pittsfield{?} New Lenox L__{Lse? hill?} 30 miles 10\14\1890 (Tuesday) Drove from Truingham{Tryingham?} and Drove to North Gahen{Goshen?} by way of Monterey New Marlborough South-Field{hypen in text. Is name hyphenated? 1 word?} North Norfolk, Norfol Soup{South?} Norfolk, and stayed over night with Mr. Samueal{Samuel?} Gillett{?}. distance 25 miles 10\15\1890 (Wednesday) drove from North Goshen home distance 31 miles 10\18\1890 (Thursday) Fred and Tom{?} worked 10\20\1890 (Monday) Tom and Fred stayed home to work an{on?} barn [[10\22\1890 piece of paper in back pocket of the workbook, dated "Waterbury Oct 22, 1890: Due H _ Welton on demand value received Two Hundred Dollars [signed] Chas. S. Miller]] 10\23\1890 (Thursday) Fred Welton{Wilton?} worked 1/2 day 10\30\1890 (Thursday) My horse broke his leg to day and had to be killed. {The following comment is written in what looks like a different handwriting Not Jack,{,?} that was drowned} 10\31\1890 (Friday) Wrote to John La Fleur{?} East Gramby Conn 11\05\1890 (Wednesday) Got a horse of Chas Gillette of Cheshire on trial 11\13\1890 (Thursday) George and Tom and Fred and myself worked{woked!} 3 hr on{om!} shed 11\14\1890 (Friday) Fred Miller and Tom and Fred and George and myself worked to day on the shed 11\15\1890 (Saturday) Mr. Cass and Tom and Fred and George worked on shed and myself{nyself!} 200{2.00?} 11\17\1890 (Monday) Weather, Rained Tom and Fred and myself worked in{in?} shed 7 hr 11\18\1890 (Tuesday) Mr. Cass, Fred Tom and George and my____{myself?} worked on{an!} shed put up rafters and roof{roaf!} boards 2 00 11\19\1890 (Wednesday) Cass Tom Fred George Munson{?} and myself worked shingling shed laid 7000 in 5 hr 2 00 11\20\1890 (Thursday) Cass Tony Fred George and myself worked on shed 2 00 11\21\1890 (Friday) Cass Tom Fred George and myself worked on shed Cass worked 9 hr 1.80 11\22\1890 (Saturday) Cass Tom Fred George and myself worked on shed{.?} Cass worked 9 hr 1.80 {mathematical equation on this page} 11\26\1890 (Wednesday) Wm Austin Cr{?} $10.00 George went to Hartford this noon 11\27\1890 (Thursday) The Somers Family spent thanksgiving at Uncle Willis there were 49 present{presant!} 11\28\1890 (Friday) George Was in Hartford to day Edward's child died to day 11\29\1890 (Saturday) George was in Hartford to day 11\30\1890 (Sunday) Mary and I went to Oakville to visit George Edwards 12\01\1890 (Monday) George came home from Hartford this noon{noom!} 127.90 due George Nettleton this date Dec 28 - 1 hr {mathematical equation on this page} 12\02\1890 (Tuesday) Ice on Wedges pond is 6" thick thicker than it was any time last winter 12\03\1890 (Wednesday) Tom _s{is?} home sick with the chills 12\04\1890 (Thursday) Tom is sick 12\05\1890 (Friday) Tom is sick 12\06\1890 (Saturday) Tom is sick 12\07\1890 (Sunday) George Edwards and family and{an!} Cara Miller and James Elliot visited us to day Went to the chapel to prayer meeting this evening 12\08\1890 (Monday) Bought a set of 1 3/4 wheel_{wheels?} 19.00 and 1 hub 1.00 Paid 19.00 12\17\1890 (Wednesday) Worked to night 12\18\1890 (Thursday) Worked to night Stephen Wedge borrowed my buggy to day for 3 or 4 days 11\19\1890 (Friday) Worked to night 12\23\1890 (Tuesday) All have{haus!} worked to night 12\25\1890 (Thursday) Manhattan Brass Co Wessell Mfg Co{?} No 521 W{?} 24th St NY T D Milber_{Miller?} No 238 W{?} 25 St __{Al?} 12\31\1890 (Wednesday) $146.00 due George Nettleton. {The following entry is on the page following the page for 12\31\1890: Began pasturing my horse in Jomes{Jones?} Part___{Parterp?} lot at .50 cts per week June 14th 1890} There is a list of expenses in the back of the journal. These pages have the heading "Expense for __________." Dates, items and amount are listed. Assorted tags and receipts are in the folder in the back of the journal. There is a tag from Bradley, Hoyt & Do listing No. and Yds. There is a card from H. B. Stanley, a dealer in watches, clocks and jewelry and a watch repairer. There is a card with a receipt on it, dated 10\22\1890{is date correct?} and signed Chas S. Miller. A mathematical equation is also on this card. On the reverse side of the card there is another receipt for $200.00 and a mathematical equation. There is some writing along the side edge on the first side, it is difficult to read. //end of small book// The American Diary 1891 Cha's S. Miller, Waterbury, Conn. is written on the inside front cover, followed by an Almanac section (astronomical calculations, weights and measures, etc.) and an Addresses and Memoranda section, containing the addresses: Arthur Hyvan, Goodwins shop City, Blackmills, Alec Mauthey, 110 Kensington St., New Britain Co., and Mauthey and Wife, 110 Kensington St., New Britain, Conn. There is also a Timetable for Board or Labor with the names Lom, Welton, and Nettleton. 01\02\{1891}(Fr) Back yard of my shop yard was flooded to the depth of 10". Mr. Fairclough made drain. 01\03\{1891}(Sa) Cold. Cleaned out the shop. 01\04\{1891}(Su) Snowed. Went to the prayer meeting at the chapel this morning. Mr. Hiram Able had the meeting. 01\05\{1891}(Mo) Snowed. Went to Ed Todds this morning thought I would freeze before I could get home. 01\06\{1891}(Tu) Worked to night. 01\07\{1891}(We) Fred was home sick{.} Did not work this evening. Chas Pierpont had a fistula{?} cart out to day {.} 01\08\{1891}(Th) Nice. Good sleighing. Mary and Clyde and Parve{?} went to town and got Clyde and Parve each an overcoat cost 4.00 each. Mother Pierpont went to grange meeting to night. George Nettletons Grandfa{ther} Sullivan visited him to day. W.L. Pierpont brought a pig that weighed 125 lbs. 01\09\{1891}(Fr) Nice sleighing. 01\10\{1891}(Sa) Nice. Mr. Cha's Gillette of Cheshire got his two horse wagon and traded one bay horse and 10.00 to boot for the same also ordered an one horse wagon he to pay me 60.00 for it and the 10.00 makes a total of 70.00 he now owes me. Price of wagon 65.00. {These are the original grammatical errors} Cara and George Mr. Smith Clyde and me and myself {?} went sliding on a double ripper this evening. 01\11\{1891}(Su) Rainy. Stayed home all day. Rained very hard the snow has most all gone at the rate it is going there will be a big flood. Harris Frost died this morning of{p}neumonia aged 78 he was a nice man. 01\12\{1891}(Mo) Cleared up. The water in mad river was one boat and a half deep an{d} the floor of the pump station and the road east of the shear shop is covered big cakes of ice where the river has run over.------------------------------------------- Mr. Shilton and a young lady that called him cousin started from Southington at 6 o'clock this morning with a sleigh at Stillmans corners the water was so high that it came in the sleigh they held their feet as high a{s} possible but it wet the back of the young ladies stockings how she must have felt she borrowed an old hat and dress as not to wet her own and had hers under the seat they got wet at my house they exchanged their sleigh for my buggy as the sleighing had all gone. {The last sentence was completed on 01\13\{1891}(Tu)} {sic} 01\14\{1891}(We) Tom went to Cheshire and got a hub for Austins Pierpont's wagon and a set of wheels for E.E. Wrights wagon. 01\15\{1891}(Th) Clear. George Nettleton took a demit{?] card from the grange which entitles him to join any grange insid{e} of six months by paying up his back dues if he fails to do so he is no longer a member of any grange. Let Mr. Jencks take my Saladee buggy for a time.{sic} 01\16\{1891}(Fr) Clear. Ed Johnson died to day aged 68 to be buried {S}aturday afternoon in Wolcott. 01\17\{1891}(Sa) Rain and snow.Fred Welton was going to Seymour this afternoon rabiting {sic} {rabbiting?} 01\18\{1891}(Su) Went to prayer meeting this evening. Bessy Garrigan led. 01\20\{1891}(Tu) Wright butchered 8 pigs to day. School commenced to day Miss Patchen teacher.{sic} 01\21\{1891}(We) {weather} Good. Tom was home sick. Wm. Purdy drew 12 truck to Holmes Booth & Haydens to day for me. Mr. Kellogg of the Pin{?} Co. ordered 8 or 3 pin {?} tubes to day.{sic} Wright butchered 11 pigs to day. 01\22\{1891}(Th) Rained hard. Big floods in all the rivers about here. Tom Melbourn{,} Fred Welton{,} George Nettleton and Myself{sic} went to wedges mill to help hurry saw the old mill was no good and we sawed but little. {sic} 01\25\{1891}(Su) Snowed. Went to the chaple{sic} to prayer meeting{>} Miss Annie Frost led the meeting. Uncle Alfred Munson is very sick. 01\26\{1891}(Mo) Fair. Snow is 15" deep on the level. Cara and I worked on my books all day. 01\26\{1891}(Tu) Good Sleighing{sic}. Cara and I worked on my books all day{.} We found that there was $1384.01 owing me and that last year I did nearly $2,000. worth of work. 01\28\{1891}(We) Nice Sleighing. Mary went to visit Gussy. Got one set of wheell{sic} of H.C.Hubbell $12.00 was for hub.{sic} Tom went collecting. 01\29\{1891}(Th) Foggy. Tom and Fred stayed home this afternoon to lay stable floor. Uncle Alfred Munson died last night at 12 o'clock aged 91 years. 01\31\{1891}(Sa) Sid Munson's hired man ran away with 2,000 {or 20.00}. 02\01\{1891}(Su) Thawed. Went to the Y.P.S. of C.E. this evening. Edson Hitchcock led the meeting. 02\02\{1891}(Mo) Warm. Wilson Pierponts wife had a baby to night. 02\03\{1891}(Tu) Rained. Medicine to cure worms in horses. Gentian 8oz Sulfite Iron {?} mix 4 " Dose 1 tablespoon full 3 times per day. 02\04\{1891}(We) Cold. The Cattolves{?} are cutting the wood of the range{?} they bought of Mrs. Cass and Mrs. Doolittle and are clearing it up ready for their burying ground.{sic} 02\06\{1891}(Fr) Snowed. Went to Holmes Booth & Haydens but Mr. Adams was out of town. Got a watch chain for Clyde. 02\07\{1891}(Sa) Snowed. Went to prayer meeting{.} Mr. Squires led the meeting. 02\09\{1891}(Su) Thomas Melbourne lumber bill 84.73. 02\10\{1891}(Tu) Miss Haddy came to day. Mr. Hawd finished getting ice to day has one house 60'x 24'x 20 full.{sic} 02\11\{1891}(We) Clear. Sent George after the washing. A.B. Pierpont is 42/41 years old today. 02\13\{1891}(Th) An appointment at the Dentist. My wife had a baby girl this morning at 6:30 o'clock had Barber for doctor and Miss Haddy (Ruth Brundags) for nurse. I got my emery {sic} Grinder shaft from the Waterbury machine Co. this morning. Gave Parter S. Woods some bills to collect. 02\14\{1891}(Fr) Brought Margaret home from Franks because she was sick with the croup. Clyde and Irving are sick with the croup. 02\15\{1891}(Sa) Had Dr. Benedict to day to attend Margaret. Mrs. T.B. Egglestone was buried to day she took me to school the first day I ever attended in 1864. We went to Miss Frost in the old Acamey {Academy?}. 02\16\{1891}(Mo) Rained. Mrs. B.S. Wedge is 34 years old to day. Took dinner with Frank on west Liberty street then went to the bank and to Holmes Booth & Haydens to see about trucks. 02\17\{1891}(Tu) Rained. Mr. C.S. Farclough is 63 years old to day he is an ugly man. Clyde is sick with the croup Jane is at A.B. Pierponts sick with the croup Margaret is sick with the croup and Mary is sick with a baby.{sic} C.S. Gillette ordered a 2 horse wagon through Cha's Ives 100.00. George took dinner at Father's. 02\18\{1891}(We) Cleared up. Tom carried Cha's Pierponts sleigh home. George and I took dinner at Fathers to day. 02\20\{1891}(Th) Mr. Sha's S. Gillitte ordered a 2 horse wagon. Mr. Munson said he saw Mr. Fairclougs wheels last night. 02\21\{1891}(Sa) I saw a new set of wheels on Mr. Fairclougs wagon. 02\22\{1891}(Su) Clear. Went to the Chapel in the afternoon and to the prayer meeting in the evening{.} Mr. Squares led the meeting. 02\24\{1891}(Tu) Father and I went to Ramson Halls auction{.} I bought 2 stoke chaws{?} for 15 cts. 02\24\{1891}(We) Was in town all this afternoon saw Parter L. Moad{.} {T}ook dinner at dads. 02\26\{1891}(Th) Snowed They had the darymans{sic} meeting at the grange hall to day{.} Took dinner at Fathers. 02\27\{1891}(Fr) Snowed. L.L. Ensworths Agent was at my shop to day. Took dinner with Father. 02\28\{1891}(Sa) Took dinner at Fathers.{sic} 03\01\{1891}(Su) Cold. Went to the Chaple to Prayer meeting Mr. Hobert Warner led the meeting. 03\02\{1891}(Mo) Cold. Went to see Ben Ferrell about a planer. 03\03\{1891}(Tu) Snowed. Bought a Plainer{sic} of Benjamin Ferrell for 10.00{.} Paid 8.00 in work and 2.00 cash. The town commenced cutting the hill on the Meridan road near Mr. Freys house{.} They worked a little while and gave it up on account of frost{.} George Benhan ordered a heavy wagon gear price 65.pp. 03\04\{1891}(We) Snowed. Worked on Mr. Wrights buggy. Took dinner with Father. 03\05\{1891}(Th) Cold. Good Sleighing. Went to grange hall to dramatic entertainment. J.J. Bryan ordered his buggy fixed up price 16.00. City Ice Co. Talked about having ice wagon built with iron gear Price $150.00. They took my telephone away because I refused to pay for it till the last of the quarter after I had had the use of it. 03\06\{1891}(Fr) Good. Good Sleighing. They took away A.B. Pierponts 2 telephones for the same reasons they did mine. Miss Haddy went home and we have engaged Emma Nichols to help do the work. Miss Haddy weighs nearly 300 lbs. 03\07\{1891}(Sa) Warm. Mr. Wright got a letter from Mr. Fred Kingsbury about the land back of my shop that we think Mr. Fairclough wrote.---------------------------------------- Tom Melbournes house was surched {searched} this noon for liquers.-------------------------------------------------- I carried the Old man Harry home to Cheshire to night and stop{p}ed at Frank Ives and measured a lot of plank.------ City Ice Co. ordered new wagon $160.00 with springs on it. 03\08\{1891}(Su) Warm. Took Mary and mother Perpont and Clyde and Jane and Margaret up to Austins for a ride. Went to the Chaple this evening. Wm H. Durkee led the meeting. 03\09\{1891}(Mo) Rained Hard. Cha's Welton is 33 years old today. ---------------------------------------------------------- Went to see Hall & Upson about their account and then to the City Ice Co. about their new wagon. 03\10\{1891}(Tu) Good. Mr. Whightman commenced working on my shop worked 9 hr. 03\11\{1891}(We) Good. Mr. Whiteman and Mr. Garrigns worked on the shop.------------------------------------------------------- Mother Pierpont went to Nellie Connors to stay a while{.} Erve went too.------------------------------------------------------ Wm. Artchenson{?} ordered cart fixed for 14.00. 03\12\{1891}(Th) Rained. Wright and I went to see Cha's Cally about Fairclough. Wright and Fairclough have been fighting all day{.} Janty{?} fought Fairclough a little while this morning. Mr. Garrigns worked 9 1/2 hr, Mr. Whiteman worked 7 1/2. 03\13\{1891}(Fr) Rained. EE Wright and myself went to see Mr. Cally but he is in New Haven. 03\14\{1891}(Sa) Cold. Cha's Cally made Cha's Fairclough turn his water from his drive way off my land and told him to put in an 6" or 8" drain pipe. 03\15\{1891}(Su) Nice day. Went to see Mr.Byam about iron roofing. Went to the chaple this evening to the Young Peoples Christian endevor{endeavor} meeting Edson Hitchcock led the meeting. They had the largest meeting I ever saw in the chapel. AB Pierpont called to see Mary and I about the trouble Charlie Pierpont is making about mothers property. 03\16\{1891}(Mo) Cold. Went to Woodtick to Mr. Cornellis to see about some wagons told him I would ask the small one for about 5.00 set no prise{price} on the large one. He is going to bring some wheels for 18.00 or 20.00. Went to James Wakellee and bought a window shash for 1.00. Elliott Doolittle called to see me about a new wagon but I was away. Mr. Whiteman worked 6 hr, Harry Whiteman worked 6 hr. 03\17\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Whiteman worked 6 1/2 hr. in the shop on his wagon. 03\18\{1891}(We) Mr. Whiteman worked on his wagon 6 1/2 hr. 03\19\{1891}(Th) Mr. Whiteman worked on his wagon 5 1/2 hr. Thomas Melbourne did not work his wife was sick. I went to cheshire{sic} this morning to get some spokes and rims for Mr. Ritters wagon. Mr. Faircloughs wheels came to day. 03\20\{1891}(Fr) Good. Mr. Whiteman worked 8 hr. on his wagon. I delivered Mr. Faircloughs wheels to him but he would not accept them and fired them out of the barn for he was mad. Fred Higgins ordered 2 horse wagon Price $135.00. 03\21\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Whiteman got through on his wagon at noon and worked for me in the afternoon 4 1/2 hr. 03\22\{1891}(Su) Rained. Rained all day I stayed home. 03\23\{1891}(Mo) Moist. Mr. Whiteman worked for me 8 hr. Stephen Wedge got a job at the West Brass Mill to day. 03\24\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Whiteman worked 9 hr. 03\25\{1891}(We) Nice. Mr. Whiteman worked 7 1/2 hr., Mr. Garragns worked 10 hr. I went to Randolphs & Clawes. 03\26\{1891}(Th) James Pater lent me 30.00 to pay Tom Melbourne. Mr. Fairclough payed me $11.03 to pay all claims and depts{debts}. {T}his is what it has cost him for being spunky and mean. Mr. Whiteman didnt work to day. School closed in the East Farms district to day. Payed Mr. Rockwood 2.50 for lettering CE Ives wagon. 03\27\{1891}(Fr) Good. Fred Welton did not work. George and Tom and I worked on the shop. All my family went over to my fathers. 03\28\{1891}(Sa) Nice. Frank and Old Ed sawed 7 1/2 cords of wood to day. 03\29\{1891}(Su) Nice. Went to the chaple this aftermoon and evening Rev.{?} Anderson preached this afternoon and Mrs. Harry Garrign led the meeting in the evening. 03\30\{1891}(Mo) Mr. Whiteman worked 5 hr. Went to Randolphs and Claws to ask about iron. 03\31\{1891}(Tu) got a load of old iron from R & C. 04\01\{1891}(We) Went to R & C after 2 loads of old iron. 04\02\{1891}(Th) Nice. Went to town this noon and to Mr. Kutters. Has a talk with George Nettleton about being late in the morning. 04\03\{1891}(Fr) Snowed 8 inches. Tom was home sick this afternoon. Old Mr. Parsons came to work this morning at 10 o'clock. 04\04\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Parsons worked 10hr. Attended town meeting to night. The main object that this meeting was called for was to appong{appoint} a superintendant of highways and bridges at $1000.00 salery {sic} a year and to repair or build a town house and to build a cart house and several new streets and to transact any other business proper to be done. The meeting ajorned{sic} for 3 years without doing any business. 04\05\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chapel this evening. Mr. Squires led the meeting. 04\06\{1891}(Mo) Cold. Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. George and I cut an ash tree over to Wilson Pierponts. Mary had a letter from Nellie stating that her mother was going to divide the Warner property among the four boys sons. 04\07\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. 04\08\{1891}(We) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. 04\09\{1891}(Th) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. 04\10\{1891}(Fr) Parsons worked 10 hrs. Mr. Garrigns worked 8 hr painting my store house. 04\11\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. 04\12\{1891}(Su) Attended prayer meeting this evening. Miss Flora Judd led the meeting. My Father is 61/60 years old to day this is the first time I ever knew how old my Father is. 04\13\{1891}(Mo) Nice. Mr. Parsons worked 10 hrs. Went to Randolphe and Claws Mr. Demring would not sell the roofing. Clyde came home from Canors{?}. Walter Garrigns is sick with the mumps and tyfard fever{typhoid?} and his wife has the mumps to. Henry Buckinghams wife has gone crazy because she thinks henry{sic} flirts with the girls at the grange. 04\14\{1891}(Tu) Parsons worked 10 hr. Worked at the saw mill about 3 hr. this morning. 04\15\{1891}(We) Parsons worked 10 hr. Mother is 57/56 years old to day. 04\16\{1891}(Th) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. Garrigns worked 8 hr. 04\17\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. Mr. Garrigns worked 8 hr. 04\18\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Rarsons worked 10 hr. Mr. Garrigans worked painting shed 8 hr. 04\19\{1891}(Su) Went to Cannors and Charlie Pierponts. 04\20\{1891}(Mo) Tom is home sick. Munson is sick. 04\21\{1891}(Tu) Tom and Fred is home sick. DC Mutug {?} called to order by Miles Booth in chair 8.13. Voted that John Peacock became a member. Voted that Luke Henderson became a member. Bus leaves corner of stay and S Main Sts at 5.30 on next Thursday evening. 04\22\{1891}(We) Tom was home all day plowing. Fred home 1/2 day. Parsons worked 10 hr. 04\23\{1891}(Th) Tom worked to day. I went to Cheshire with the drum corps to drum for the Old{or Odd} Fellows. 04\24\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Wm F Munson died tonight at about 8 o'clock aged 41 years. 04\25\{1891}(Sa) Ervis Wright and myself spent all day ar{r}ainging for Mr. Munsons funeral. 04\26\{1891}(Su) Wm Munson was buried to day. Rev. Mr. Egglestone officiated. Miles Ovaitt [Oviatt], Cha's Adams, Cha's Kenea and Mr. Burlingam were pall brers{bearers}. 04\28\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. Tom and Fred stayed mone to day to set out the hedge. Hobert Welton interest comes due to day. 04\29\{1891}(We) Clyde and I went to Bridgeport. Call on Martelle, Mrs. Munson, Faney, Champlin, Pierpont. 05\04\{1891}(Mo) Fred Welton was taken sick this noon. did not work this afternoon. 05\05\{1891}(Tu) Fred welton sick to day. Ferdannand Martel came to work in my paint shop to day. rent 3.00 per month. 05\06\{1891}(We) Fred Welton stayed home sick. Ed Canger planted my potatoes to day. 05\07\{1891}(Th) Fred Welton home sick to day. 05\08\{1891}(Fr) Fred Welton worked to day. 05\10\{1891}(Su) Went to Manville Nortons and Cha's Tuttles. 05\11\{1891}(Mo) Paid H.V. Welton 23.00 on interest, 3.10 due now. 05\12\{1891}(Tu) Paid H.V. Welton $3.10. 05\13\{1891}(We) Went to see Mrs. Munson she said Mr. Peckord is planting her garden. 05\15\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Parsons worked on City Ice wagon 10 hr. Paid 1.40 for lumber. 05\16\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Parsons worked on the City Ice wagon 10 hr. 20 hr. 05\17\{1891}(Su) We went to Praspect {?} for a ride. 05\18\{1891}(Mo) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr on City Ice wagon. {calculations follow} 05\19\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr on ice wagon. 05\23\{1891}(Sa) Tom Melbourne was home sick this afternoon. 05\24\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chapel with Clyd and Irve and Mrs. Benham and Mary. Mr. Garrigns had me place the flags on the souldiers {soldiers} graves in the East Farmes Burying Ground. 05\26\{1891}(Tu) Drum Corps had a meeting this evening. There wer{e} present Luke Henderson,L. Lanaitt, C.S. Miller, Miles Booth, Mr. Pholen, John Marrow, James Elliot. 05\27\{1891}(We) Went to the Ann{u}al Chapel meeting. Mr. Brsdley Seneca Munson, David Parter and Cha's Frost were elected Chapel committee for the ensuing year. Hiram Able was elected Secretary and Mrs. Theodore Munson Treasurer. Meeting ajourned to June 27th. 05\28\{1891}(Th) Had Drum Corps meeting this evening there were present H.A. Norton, Henry Cross, George Edwards, Rufus Carley, Luk Henderson, Mr. Pholen, James Elliott, Miller Booth, C.S. Miller 05\29\{1891}(Fr) Fred Welton did not work. P.T. Barnum circus was in town to day. 05\30\{1891}(Sa) Went to the Flog Raising on the high sc{h}ool grounds had an address by John Milton Mabbott and by Captain Chamberlain. Had the largest local parade I ever saw in Waterbury I drummed in the Mattobuck Drum Corps. 05\31\{1891}(Su) Went to Arthur Harrisons and got the sword that once belonged to Major Byington of Wolcott. Went to the Chapel and got the wreathes and flags to lay on the graves of the soldiers in the East Farms burying ground. 06\04\{1891}(Mo) Wallace Andrews said he would see me week after next which would be the 18th. 06\05\{1891}(Tu) Bal due Clark Bros. $13.69. {The rest is unclear} 06\06\{1891}(Sa) Paid F.B. Fields clerk 27.40 for Fred Welton. 06\07\{1891}(Su) Stayed home all day. 06\08\{1891}(Mo) Went to see A.F. Slater of Wolcott. 06\09\{1891}(Tu) Went to see Mr. Byam. 06\10\{1891}(We) {measures} 06\11\{1891}(Th) Paid Mr. Parsons 15.00 all I owe him. 06\13\{1891}(Sa) George went away on the cars. Fred went to baintom{?} take fishing. 06\25\{1891}(Th) Went Cheshire. 06\26\{1891}(Fr) Tom and I went to see Wallace Andrews he said 06\27\{1891}(Sa) Tom and I went to Atwoles{?} and bought a 4 year colt of Mr. Sterry for 100.00. Pais $50.00. 06\28\{1891}(Su) Attended Chapel this evening Mrs. Anne Munson led the meeting. 06\29\{1891}(Mo) Attended school meeting this evening. A.B. Pierpont was elected committee, Wm. Austin clerk, Luthur Bradley treasurer. Voted to have another meeting 2 weeks from to night. 07\03\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Jencks gave deed of land on corner of Mrs. Doolittle's road and Cheshire road. Gave Mr. Parsons 25.00. 07\12\{1891}(Su) Mary and Rol Jenner stayed at our house last night and to day we went for a ride to Cheshire. 07\18\{1891}(Sa) Fred Welton has earned since he worked for me $470.25 and I have paid him $401.51 leaving 68.74 due and taken out 20.60 for {?} leave 4814 now due him. {calculation at bottom} 07\22\{1891}(We) George sma{c}ked Mr. Parson's hand with a 8 pound sledge driving spokes in the City Ice Co. wagon. 07\24\{1891}(Fr) Paid Mr. Parsons 10.00. 07\28\{1891}(Tu) Paid Mr. Parsons 13.00. Went to see Porter Le Wood about Mr. Smith's bill. 07\31\{1891}(Fr) Sheriff Rigney came and took Mr. Smith's buggy away. 08\08\{1891}(Sa) George Nettleton started for Hartford this afternoon on his bicicle{sic}. Went duck hunting this morning at Seatts pond. 08\09\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chapel this afternoon and evening. 08\15\{1891}(Sa) George Nettleton got through working for me to day I payed him 140.00 in full to date. 08\16\{1891}(Su) I went to the Chapel this afternoon and evening. 08\17\{1891}(Mo) {measures} 08\23\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chaple and then Father and mother Mary and myself went to the rattlesnake quarry. 09\01\{1891}(Tu) {calculations} 09\02\{1891}(We) Took Mrs. Wells Carriage home this afternoon. Ervis Wright is worse to day. Sam Munson is very sick. 09\26\{1891}(Sa) {accounts} 09\28\{1891}(Mo) Arther Merriman ordered cart price $90.00. 09\29\{1891}(Tu) Lockhart ordered wagon made over for 45.00. 09\30\{1891}(We) Henry Carter ordered 1 set of trees for 11.42. 10\02\{1891}(Fr) Paid Mr. Parsons 4.00. 10\12\{1891}(Mo) Paid Mr. Parsons 12.00. All the Miller family went to Mary Jenners this evening the same being the 15th anniversary of her marriage. 10\17\{1891}(Sa) {calculations} 10\19\{1891}(Mo) Alfred Northrop came to work for me to day @1.25. 10\22\{1891}(Th) Bought of Henry Whiteman {list} 10\24\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons $20.00. 10\27\{1891}(Tu) Recieved of Mr. J. Gum 200 leaving a balance of 7.15 now due. Snowed to day first snow I have seen this season. Wright butchered 8 hogs to day. 10\28\{1891}(We) Recieved of the City Ice Co. $169.10 pay in full to date. Paid Alfred Northrop 7.00. 11\02\{1891}(Mo) Paid Mr. Martelle $38.28 for all due him. 27.00 for Fabor, 11.28 for me. 11\03\{1891}(Tu) Paid Mr. Northrop 7.50. 11\04\{1891}(We) Paid Mr. Parsons 10.00. Had shop ishured{insured}. 11\05\{1891}(Th) Tom staid home to work. 11\06\{1891}(Fr) Tom stayed home to work. 11\13\{1891}(Fr) Paid Mr. Northrop 7.50. Paid Perre Supernot 11.25 in full to date. 11\14\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons 15.00. Paid Tom 6.00. Perre did not work to day. 11\15\{1891}(Su) Peter Marsh the painter and I went to John Marses and James Harry's. Mr. Parsons worked 9 hr. 11\16\{1891}(Mo) Paid Hobert W.Welton 26.10 interest. Perre worked 10 hrs. 11\17\{1891}(Tu) Perre worked 9 hr. I took Tom Melbourns horse to keep a spell. 11\18\{1891}(We) Perre worked 10hr. 11\20\{1891}(Fr) {calculations} 11\21\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons 12.00. 11\22\{1891}(Su) All the family went to Mr. Edwards. 11\25\{1891}(We) Paid Mr. Northrop 6.00. 11\26\{1891}(Th) Thanksgiving. 11\28\{1891}(Sa) Paid Perre 1.00. 12\05\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons 7.00. 12\06\{1891}(Su) {calculations and diagram} 12\07\{1891}(Mo) {measures} 12\08\{1891}(Tu) Recived of Fred 30.00 Pay in full to date and AB Paccaivt{?} Peter Marsh got through painting Mrs. Pierponts house and went to work for George Benham. I was home sick all day. 12\18\{1891}(Fr) Arthur Merriman ordered ax wagon for $100.00. Walter Brooks ordered 2 horse wagon for $75.00. Mr. Iseral Coe died to day aged 97 years. 12\22\{1891}(Tu) Billy White worked 6 hr. digging my cellar. 12\27\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chaple this afternoon and evening. 12\29\{1891}(Tu) Paul Hesphelt worked 4 1/2 hr digging my cellar. Mr. Lucus worked 8 hr striping two bobs sleighs. 12\30\{1891}(We) Paul and Billy worked 6 hr digging my cellar. 12\31\{1891}(Th) Paul worked 4 hr., Billy worked 8 hr digging. There is a note of accounts marked March 2 in the Memoranda section, and a full Cash Account section. The back cover is filled with calculations. The American Diary 1892 An Almanac section in the front, followed by an Addresses and Memoranda section with the names and addresses: John Hylander, No 128 Cook St., Bds P. Anderson, Mrs. Krogany, 65 So Elm St., L.J. Richardson, 223 North Elm St.,and Frank Blodgilt, #117 Demsian St., City. There is also a Time Table for Board or Labor including the names Tom, Northrop, Fred, Parsons, Weltran, Cass, Pratt, and Marsh. Daily Memoranda 01\01\{1892}(Fr) Paul Hesphelt worked digging my cellar 2 hr. 01\02\{1892}(Sa) Miles Farrell was Buried to day at Mill Plain. 01\03\{1892}(Su) Tom Melbourn and I took his colt over to Wm Cooks in Wollingford for him to keep. 01\04\{1892}(Mo) Old Mrs. Barnes, Cha's Frosts mother in law was buried to day at Mill Plain. 01\06\{1892}(We) Tom was sick to day. Mr. Rin and his son painted Austins meat wagon. 01\10\{1892}(Su) We all went to Ed Todds. 01\13\{1892}(We) Waterbury Brass Co. Mill burned to day loss $300,000 ishured{insured} $180,000. Cass came to work. 01\15\{1892}(Fr) Wilson Pierpont drew plank from Todds mill. {?} 25 lbs Rys flour .75 cts. 01\17\{1892}(Su) Charles Frost's Horse run away and smashed the sleigh to pieces. 01\18\{1892}(Mo) June 16 Setting 1 set t{?} 2.00. All $5.65. W.L. Pierpont drew plank from Todds saw mill (one load). 01\23\{1892}(Sa) Paul Hesphelt worked on my cellar 16 1/2 hr White{?} worked 20 ---------- 36 1/2 Paid Parsons 98.00. 02\12\{1892}(Fr) Went to Bridgeport to the Aluminum Brass and bronze Co. to see about trucks. 02\13\{1892}(Sa) I{?} Went to Bridgeport to work on trucks. 02\16\{1892}(Tu) Mother went over to Charlies to stay over Trinity supper. 02\20\{1892}(Sa) Tom went to Bridgeport to work on trucks. 02\25\{1892}(Th) Went to see Randolphes and Clawes about trucks. Holmes Boogh and Hardens ordered 6 trucks @ 30.00 each no wheels. 02\26\{1892}(Fr) Fred Miller came to work for me @150. 02\27\{1892}(Sa) Went to Randolph and Claws to see about making trucks at 15.00 each they to furnish everything except rivets and bolts. {calculation at end} 02\29\{1892}(Mo) Mr. Cass came to work for me @ 1.50. Fred Miller went to work casting for the Manhattan Brass Co. of N.Y. City. 03\05\{1892}(Sa) Ed Holmes worked drawing logs from Wilson Pierponts swanp to Wedges mill and to Todds mill in the afternoon. 03\06\{1892}(Su) We called at George Edwards to day. 03\07\{1892}(Mo) Fred R. Welton Died at 6.30 o'clock this morning. 03\06\{1892}(We) Fred Welton was buried to day. 03\10\{1892}(Th) Wm. Pratt hired out to work for me for one year @ 2.25 per day. 03\11\{1892}(Fr) Ed Benham Price for house 1800.00. 03\12\{1892}(Sa) {calculation of...} Time Fred Welton worked since he came to work after getting through at West Brass mill. 03\17\{1892}(Th) Paid Mr. Parsons 10.00 having 21.70 due. 03\18\{1892}(Fr) Arthur Merriman hired Wm Purdys ax wagon for a time @ 1.00 per week. 03\21\{1892}(Mo) Wm Pratt came to work for me @ 2.25 per day. 03\22\{1892}(Tu) R and I ordered 4 wagons for #95.00. 03\23\{1892}(We) City Ice Co. ordered wagon gear for 75.00. 04\04\{1892}(Mo) Arthur Terrell of Wolcott worked digging my cellar 2.00. 04\05\{1892}(Tu) Sam and Johnson worked stoneing my cellar. Sam 2.75, Johnson 2.40. 04\06\{1892}(We) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\07\{1892}(Th) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\08\{1892}(Fr) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\09\{1892}(Sa) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\10\{1892}(Su) Clyde Irving and myself walked to the top of turkey hill to day. 04\11\{1892}(Mo) Sam and Johnson Worked on my cellar. 04\12\{1892}(Tu) Sam and Johnson worked on my cellar. 04\13\{1892}(We) Sam and Johnson worked on my cellar. 04\14\{1892}(Th) Sam and Johnson and old Ed worked on my cellar. W.L. Pierpont and Benham and Wm Austin and Ed Holmes drew logs to Todds mill. 04\15\{1892}(Fr) Worked drawing sand and stone and lumber. Benham and Wm Austin and W.L. Pierpont drew logs to Todds mill. 04\16\{1892}(Sa) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\18\{1892}(Mo) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\19\{1892}(Tu) Iam and Johnson worked on cellar. 04\20\{1892}(We) Iam and Johnson furnished cellar.{calculation} Rec{i}eved of C.S. Miller $50.00 on account {signature} 04\20\{1892}(Tu) The Ovaitts [Oviatts] and Warners started this morning for Portland Uragan {Oregon}. It will take 617 yards plaster and 12.000 lalte{?} for my house. 05\12\{1892}(Th) Ed Benham commenced my house. Worked himself with 2 men. {wages calculation} From 05\13\{1892}(Fr) to 08\10\{1892}(We) there are account listings and various payments made to Mr. Benham and others in reference to their work on Mr. Miller's house. Apparently, the house was entirely repainted and possibly whitewashed in places. Mr. Miller also dug a well with Tom, Cass and Pratt. There are also the listings of normal hours for the men in the shop. 08\22\{1892}(Mo) George Whaler worked digging ditches in my lab{?}. 09\03\{1892}(Sa) Borrowed 10.00 of D.G. Paiter. 09\09\{1892}(Fr) Ed Todd sawed 1183 ft of plank last winter for W.L. Pierpont. 09\27\{1892}(Tu) George Sprage Or by Cash{?} 5.00. 10\27\{1892}(Th) Fred Woods ordered wagon 75.00. 11\14\{1892}(Mo) Went to Ansonia. 11\16\{1892}(We) Cass did not work. 11\17\{1892}(Th) Paid Damelly 3.70. From 11\21\{1892}(Mo) to 12\07\{1892}(We) there are account listings for work done on Mr. Miller's well by Miller, Cass, Marsh, and Melbourne. 12\14\{1892}(We) Recieved of C.S. Miller 36.00 as interest.{with the signature of a Joseph Munger} 12\28\{1892}(We) Miss Haddy came to day. The Cash Account and Payable and Recievable sections in the back have partial notation. In the back pocket is a scrap of paper containing a payment account. The American Diary 1893 On the inside cover, there is a map of Jackson Park during the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893. There is also an almanac section, followed by Addresses and Memoranda, with the addresses: John Manteille, Waterbury Fred D. Miller, 36 Admeral St., New Haven Wm Morris Jr., No 57 Church St., New Haven, Conn. J.T. Phalen, 196 Dublin St. C.H. Tufts, New Haven, Conn., Box 15.93 Wm Morris Jr. 57 Church St., Sec Cau fife and Drum Assasectry{?} JB Rogers, Eliot, Maine JB Rogers, Butte Montana, (Parrot Smelter{?}) LJ Bradley, 39 Park Ave,City Boylon, (cloth) Grand St., NY AJ Cammeyer, 6th Ave, (Boot tops) NY AL Boutillier Brothers, 14th St., NY James McCreery CC, Broadway & 11 St., NY JG Hurzmann{?}, Box 438, Waterbury John W. Fields, ofs{?} Mrs. Lydia Marsh, #86 Penbroke St., Bridgeport Wm Rutter, 186 West 135th Street, New York JP Howell & Co. 77 Beekman St., NY JB Haynes, 230 Cherry St. TC Maulthrop, Bristol, Conn. Fred D. Miller, 23 Shelton Ave, New Haven, Conn. There is also a Time Table for Board of Labor with the names Melbaum, Cass, and Marsh. There is a listing of accounts from 01\01\{1893}(Su) to 01\06\{1893}(Fr) concerning feed and payment to workers. 01\10\{1893}(Tu) Baby was born this morning weight 11 lbs. Frank Pierpont Miller ("Mike") 01\14\{1893}(Sa) 4 below, Cold 01\15\{1893}(Su) 2 below, Cold 01\16\{1893}(Mo) 7 below, Cold 01\17\{1893}(Tu) 17 below, Cold 01\18\{1893}(We) 17 below, Cold 01\24\{1893}(Tu) Had a school meeting this evening to lay a tax to pay the district debt of $1000.00 but they voted to borrow $200.oo more B.F. Haggett. Moderator Mark L. Warner Committee. 01\26\{1893}(Th) Sarah Freeman came to work for us at 1.00 per week. 01\29\{1893}(Su) Miss Haddy went home to day. 01\08\{1893}(We) Gunn Paid $1.00. 01\09\{1893}(Th) City Ice Co. ordered 12'foot ice wagon for $250. 01\15\{1893}(We) Wm Purdy Paid $15.00. 02\24\{1893}(Fr) Elizer Hotchkiss Paid 9.25. Wm Strong Paid 2.00. 02\28\{1893}(Tu) Had school meeting. 03\07\{1893}(Tu) 170' oal{?} of James Parter logs. 03\09\{1893}(Th) Went to Hartford to the meeting before the Agricultural committee. 03\14\{1893}(Tu) Mr. Fitzgeralds wagon is to cost 53.00. 03\21\{1893}(Tu) Had school meeting. Voted to lay 13 mills tax. 04\04\{1893}(Tu) Had school meeting. Voted to lay tax of 7 mills. 04\13\{1893}(Th) (Listing of accounts.) 04\14\(Fr) Mark L Warner Camithe{?} of Mill Plain School District. The Subscriber ligol{?} voter: of said school district hereby request you to call a special meeting of the legal voters of said District for the purpose of laying a futher school tax; of six mills on a dollar to become due and payable the 2nd day of Oct AD 1893 said tax to be laid on the grand list of 1892 dated April 12 AD 1893. SL Monson, WL Munson, TD Munson, Wm Atkinson,{this list is continued on 04\15\{1893}(Sa)} David T Squires, OL Fairchild, C Art Ward, LW Holland, GH Pengrey, David Shannon, Hiram W Bates, CH Monroe, HJ Able, BT Haggett, MB Alcott, Gaylord Alcott Cha's Ives Seat 495 wide. April 14th Mr. Wright had 11 large hogs and 10 small ones. 04\17\{1893}(Mo) Mr Wright told me he would summonds all the witnesses he could if he was canaplaned{?complained} of 04\19\{1893}(We) Fred Woods brought 2800 of soft coal. 04\28\(Fr) James Parter, DG Parter, Henson Miller, CS Miller, Sarah Hine, complained of Wrights Pigs and garbage. 05\01\{1893}(Mo) If I were called to testify I should have to say that nearly every time I drove by here last summer I caught the smell terribly from Jim Parters down to your Fathers. It had aught to have been stoped years ago.{sic} Ed Welton. -------------------------------------------------------------- I have smelled something pret{t}y strang{e} when passing but could not say what it was. But this I am sure of I have met loads of garbage turning in to Mr Wrights place that would have made me hold my nose had I not have driven from it as fast as I could. Geo M Benham. --------------------------------------------------------------- 05\02\{1893}(Tu) I would have stopped it long ago if I could. I had to hold my breath very strong last summer while passing to and from work. HJ Able. --------------------------------------------------------------- No farmer would ever have such a smell on his place. he would either plow it under or bury it. A man aught to be put in prison that is mean enough to make the public smell it. George Alexander 05\03\{1893}(We) When the wind is northeast We catch pretty strong sniffs of it. Fred Frampkin --------------------------------------------------------------- The smell blew across here so strong most of the time last summer that we could not stand it without closing the windows. Bradley 05\06\{1893}(Sa) Went to City hall to the hearing before the board of health in regard to Mr Wrights Piggery. They appointed Mr Pinney and Mayer Webster to investigate. Select man Pinney and Mayer Webster inspected Wrights Pig pen's.{sic} 05\09\{1893}(Tu) Mr Wright stopped town team's and 11 men and took the men in cellar time hindered 12 minutes 2 yoke open and 1 pair horses. 05\10\{1893}(We) Frank and Gussy Started for Palouse city Washington star at 8.20 actach{?} A.M. No of Franks Baggage check 164 Brase 37614 1528 Bros 37615 05\11\{1893}(Th) {list of measures} 05\12\{1893}(Fr) Smelled Wrights pig pens stronger than usual. 05\13\{1893}(Sa) Dr O'Hara inspected Wrights Pig pens and my place and Hawds and Barnard Son & Co. 05\15\{1893}(Mo) Wright had a load of garbage come. 05\19\{1893}(Fr) Dr O'Hara inspected my place and ordered privee and sink drain changed. 05\20\{1893}(Sa) JA Joel & Co, 88 Nassau St., NY, Price of flag 8x12 $9.00. Made box for water closet. 05\22\{1893}(Mo) Wright had load of garbage come. Making box and changing privee 6.00. 05\23\{1893}(Tu) Making cispoal{?cesspool} 800. 05\29\{1893}(Mo) Peter worked 9 hr. 05\30\{1893}(Tu) Decoration Day. Drummed for the veterans at the Sauldiers {soldiers} Monument and at the raising of the flag at Mill Plain school house. 05\31\{1893}(We) Peter worked 7 hr. 06\01\{1893}(Th) Peter worked 9. 06\02\{1893}(Fr) Peter worked 4 hr.06\03\{1893}(Sa) Thomas Lillianhad set of wheels price 15.00. Paid 10.00. Peter worked 6 1/2 hr. 06\05\{1893}(Mo) 10 o'clock Peter got here. Peter worked 5 1/2 hr. 06\06\{1893}(Tu) Peter worked 9 hr. 06\07\{1893}(We) {list of measures} 06\09\{1893}(Fr) {list of measures} 06\12\{1893}(Mo) John Byron ordered coal wagon Price 65.00. 06\14\{1893}(We) {list of measures} 06\16\{1893}(Fr) 9 o'clock. 06\17\{1893}(Sa) {list of measures} 06\29\{1893}(Th) Brown moded {?} all day with machine. Cass moded {?} all day. Tom worked 1/2 day. I worked 1/2 day at hay. 07\01\{1893}(Sa) Cass Tom and Myself worked at hay. 07\03\{1893}(Mo) Cass hawed Potatoes. 07\05\{1893}(We) Brown Moved the meadow south of the wood. Cass Tom and I worked 4 hr till driven in by rain and hail some of the hail stones were as big round as a silver dollar and the shape of a summer squash. 07\06\{1893}(Th) Waterbury Seap{?} iron Co Field St. Peter worked 1/2 day. 07\07\{1893}(Fr) Wright had load of garbage come to day. 07\08\{1893}(Sa) Cass did not work. 07\16\{1893}(Su) Clyde Irving and Myself drove to New Haven and to Fort Hale and the old light house and drove home again in the evening. 07\30\{1893}(Su) Mary and I drove to New Haven and back again to day. 08\01\{1893}(Tu) {accounts} 08\05\{1893}(Sa) Clyde and I went to New Haven. Drove to Cheshire and went the rest of the way in case{?}. 08\06\{1893}(Su) Went to Charles Island on Mr Bakers tug . Mr Meeker was pilot. 08\07\{1893}(Mo) Came home from N.H. this morning. 08\19\{1893}(Sa) Paid Mr Muiger $10.00 interest. 10\20\{1893}(Fr) Assessed Property{list} 10\22\{1893}(Su) Franks wife came to our house to stay a while. 11\04\{1893}(Sa) Had Shop inshured{insured} for 720 at rate of 27.00 on the thousand. 11\09\{1893}(Th) Dr O'Hara visited my place to day. Moved water closet this evening. 11\10\{1893}(Fr) Dr. O'Hara and an American reporter visited my place to day. Moving privy and making vault 4.00. 11\11\{1893}(Sa) Went to New Haven to see country health officer Hoadley. 11\13\{1893}(Mo) Country Health officer and Town health officer O'Hara visited my place and ordered cesspool made. 11\15\{1893}(We) Cass worked on cesspool. 11\16\{1893}(Th) Frank and Cass and Tom and myself worked making cesspool{account} 11\18\{1893}(Sa) Dr O'Hara visited my place . the time he was there did not exceed 10 minutes. 11\23\{1893}(Th) Paid Hobert W Welton 30.00. 11\27\{1893}(Mo) {listing of accounts} 12\02\{1893}(Sa) Dr O'Hara visited my place was there about 5 minutes. In the back is a Memoranda section in which there is the note LD Bauley, By drawing lumber 800. There is also a full Cash Account section, and the expenses section is empty. In the back pocket, there is a piece of paper on which there is a listing of accounts for clothing bought and repaired, etc. The American Diary 1895 There is an Almanac section, and an Addresses and Memoranda section in which there are the addresses: Cd {?} Page, Plymoth{sic}, Conn., John M Hatch, Danbury, VE Barnum, Danbury, John W Bacon, Danbury, GM Rundel, Danbury, and SH Rundel, Danbury. There is also a full Time Table for Board or Labor with the names: Melbourne, Cass, George Cass, Burns, and Tom. 01\01\{1895}(Tu) Have not been able, yet, to find any Diary for 1894. There are shop Acct. bks. etc.-M. Hall. 01\15\{1895}(Tu) City Ice Co ler{?} By lease or account $10.00. 01\25\{1895}(Fr) M Colloty ordered 1 cart to be done for price{?} 1.11. Price 65.00 Axle 2.11 Body 9" deep from floor. 01\30\{1895}(We) Had a meeting a Mill Plain chapel and it was decided that the Ladies Union should pay the Ministers and organists. 02\07\{1895}(Th) Hiram Able called on James Parters folks to seat{?} the Chapel Treasurer. Was informed that they should pay no bills And that we need not bring any more money there. 03\01\{1895}(Fr) Ladies Union paid Chapel society 14.00 to pay John French to date. 03\18\{1895}(Sa) Paid Mark Pond 20.00. 03\21\{1895}(Tu) Drove to Walnut beach and stayed there over night. 03\25\{1895}(Sa) In memory of forty six American soldiers who sacrificed their lives in struggling for the Independance of their country, this Monument was erected in 1852 by the joint liberality of of {sic} the general assembly the People of Milford and other contributing friends. Two Hundred American soldiers in a destitute sickly and dying conditions , were brought from a British prison ship , then lying near New York, and suddenly cast upon our shore from a British cartel ship, on the first of Jan. 1777. The inhabitants of Milford made the most share table efforts for the relief of these suffering strangers yet notwithstanding all their kind ministrations, in one month, these forty six died, and were buried in one common grave. Their names and residences are inscriven on this monument. Who shall say that Republics are ungrateful. 08\11\{1895}(Su) Mr McCracken preached at the Chapel this afternoon, Clyde and Irving and myself went to Bucks hill to Mr Tylers this afternoon. 08\14\{1895}(We) My Wife had a child this morning at 2.30 O'clock weight -11 3/4 lbs. (Raymond H. Miller) 08\22\{1895}(Th) Told John Pierpont that I would fix up his cart for 17.00. 08\23\{1895}(Fr) Went to Danbury to see about taking decorated wagon to the fair. 08\24\{1895}(Sa) Went to Watertown to see about taking decorated wagon to the Watertown fair. 09\02\{1895}(Mo) Mr & Mrs Gillett are married 55 years to night. 09\12\{1895}(Th) JH Brauson, #49 N Willow Heght of wire 13'-6" {sic} 09\16\{1895}(Mo) 6,000 lbs 6.00 8.40 David Bury 13' from{?} Raid 09\18\{1895}(We) {listing of business accounts} 09\20\{1895}(Fr) Veterans Nelson Hall, John French Continentalon{?} Arthur Pierpont Puritans Hery Cass, George Hall Indians Dwight Canklin, Ed Scott Plowman Grinder Cha's Hotchkiss Blacksmith Thomas Melbourne Cornshiller Cider Makers George Cass, Clyde Miller Lanmill Irving Miller Chicru{?} Wm Canklin 09\21\{1895}(Sa) Fiddler and Dancing Mr Cass, Dan Squairs Uncle Sam Dexter Northrop 10\01\{1895}(Tu) Wm Byrnes went to work at Roger Bro's 10\10\{1895}(Th) {diagram} 10\14\{1895}(Mo) Threashiers Cha's Minor, Wm Pritchard 11\11\{1895}(Mo) Fred was arrested to day. I went bans for him in the sum of $200.00. 11\12\{1895}(Tu) Fred had his trial this morning appealed to District cort{court}. Bands fixed at $200.00, Town band $200.00. Tried befor{e} Judge Cawell. D, Mr Burpee At the time the divorce was granted, would you let the child go. Lattie, I suppose I shall have to. Burpee, I said at the time the divorce was granted. Lattie Oh no, I wouldn't let her go at that time under any considerations. Mr. webster Didn't you know that the child was given to you Fred Judge Thayer said that either of us could have it and I knew that she wanted it Mr Burpee and Webster reads the decree of divorce Judge Cawell He aint a fit person to have the costidy{sic} of the child. Mr Burpee: Why Judge, Look at his past record he didnt pay his lawers {sic} Mr Burpee I wish to beg pardon Mr Hamilton of NH and myself were his lawyers Judge Cawell I was retained on that case myself 11\14\{1895}(Th) Mr Burpee Fred Miller is as good a citizen man as there is in Waterbury as New Haven, if you are going to bring in outside matters, I shall take an appeal. Jude Cawell You and Mr Webster had better settle it between you. Burpee We are asking no favors only such as the law provides Mr Webster You will find the law on page 36 in the Acts of 93. Fred Mr Lawyers, May I speak Cawell No, Shut up we have heard enough from you. 11\16\{1895}(Sa) Went to New Haven to see Fred. 11\20\{1895}(We) Went to see the Select men about paying 3.00 a week for Amy Millers support. 12\03\{1895}(Tu) Will Gillette and I went to Mr Thompsons after Amy Miller for Fred. Mrs Lattie Miller objected to us taking her. 12\18\{1895}(We) and Wm Gillette Ive saw Lattie on street to day P,M. 12\23\{1895}(Mo) and Card Ive saw Lattie on street to day about 8 o'clock. 12\31\{1895}(Tu) Amy was in Ive's office, and said that her mother was on the street waiting for her about 2 P.M. The end pages contain a Memoranda section in which there is a List of Fairs: Watertown Sept 11 and 12 George Downe Wallingford Sept 18 and 19 Bristol Sept 25 and 26 TH Keens Pres, BA. Peck Sec. Meriden Oct 2-3-4 LE Coe Pres, GW Fairchild Sec. Danbury 7-8-9-10-11-12 Oct Wolcott Oct 16 and a list of familiar names with lines drawn through them. There is a partially filled Cash Account section, and an empty Payable and Receivable section. The back pocket contains a Trade Card for Charles S. Miller, as a member of the Grange effective until Dec 31, 1895. There is also an empty account slip. The American Diary 1896 In the beginning there is an Almanac section for 1896, followed by an Addresses and Memoranda section with the addresses: N D Forbes, Montowese, Conn., Hattie L. Lyman, Car Round Hill and Wood Sts. City, Artisan S. Clark, Middlebury, Conn., S H Cae, B736, City, R S Woodruff, 92 Prospect St. $8.50, L D Miller, #26 Warren St. New Haven, Mr. Mahan, Cole St., Thomas Bulger, North Orange St., City. There is also a Time Table for Board or Labor with the names: Melbourne, George Cass, Burns, C. Tuttle, W. Matthew 01\09\{1896}(Th) Went to New Haven to Fred{'}s Trial. The trial was put over till next monday {lower case his}. 01\10\{1896}(Fr) {not his handwriting} How about sending these{?} to Amy. 01\13\{1896}(Mo) Went to New Haven to day to Fred{'}s tryal {sic} to day{.} He won his case and had his child Amy granted to him Amy is 9 years old {sic} 01\30\{1896}(Th) Instulation{sic} Beacon Valley furnish Programm, 02\04\{1896}(Tu) Took Caw to ABP 02\06\{1896}(Th) Roalcall{sic} of officers. George Athunson, Thomas Fourclaugh Mrs. French George Alexander 02\13\{1896}(Th) Starrs Calleage{?} The Agricultural School fund of Conn. Which offers the greates{t} advantage (benefit) to the future Farmer, Male or Storrs Calleage{?} Pruning Vines Shrubs & Trees 02\14\{1896}(Fr) (Scene) Carting in Conn in the days of our Grandmother's. Tom Did not work. 02\20\{1896}(Th) Emmigration Washington{'}s birthday Should the Farmer combine in establishing prices of farm products 02\27\{1896}(Th) Cuban Questions Current Events Pruning vines and trees 03\05\{1896}(Th) Reading of the Courtship of Miles Standish----------------- Miss May Tatern 3 Miss Wirtman " Lyman (Arthur) 2 A B Pierpont 5 Mrs W L Pierpont 7 Mrs. C S Miller Miss Richardson 8 Miss Bessie Tyler Miss Anna Hall 6 Mrs. Todd 4 03\06\{1896}(Fr) Perkins and Jones carriage to cast 1,400{.} New axles old wheel and old top. 03\07\{1896}(Sa) Cheshire H E Valentine New axles 6.00 New tires 7.00 Brake 6.00 Painting 8.00 -------- 27.00 03\12\{1896}(Th) {this part has one line drawn through it} Cast of making a Lofe{?} of bread Should Emigration {sic} Be restricted 03\19\{1896}(Th) {this part with slashes through it} Reading of the origin of the War songs. Open Grange. {Also, stuck between the pages is a folded rectangle of paper with the date "November 15th 1886 " and the name "Charlotte Amy Miller" followed by the words "This is copied from my copy book. And is correct. We were all very glad to see Mama- although did not quite expect her until tomorrow. We got along fine-Are all well and got along nicely. You might to see the washouts. Mama says it was nothing down in N.H. to what it is here- Come up when you can. Look to Amy. Grandpa Grandma and Aunt Iva all send love. Cara." 03\26\{1896}(Th) Sister Halls Night 03\30\{1896}(Mo) Fred Perkett (followed by measures) 04\01\{1896}(We) Mr. Rudae accaer{?} with Milbam{?} $17.00 Rented my Paint Shop to Wm Byrnes for 10.00 per month. 04\02\{1896}(Th) Cast of a loaf of Bread Why wheat raising was discontinued in Conn. rye, and flower {flour} 04\09\{1896}(Th) Why do we cain {?} money except for charge 04\12\{1896}(Su) Stone boat 2'-1" wide {diagram} 05\01\{1896}(Fr) Joseph Saunders Went into partnership today 05\13\{1896}(We) Joe Healeys Pale 4 1/2" wid{e} at evener hole 05\29\{1896}(Fr) \30\{1896}(Sa) \31\{1896}(Su) Listing of names and accounts {owed?} 06\08\{1896}(Mo) Wm Kimball 11.50 John Norton 3.70 06\10\{1896}(We) Distance from center to center of bolts 3 3/16 5/16 bolts {this is unclear} Marvell{?} Norton In Buy 49' wood 4.00 06\18\{1896}(Th) Landlord Barnes Martin Barnes Kept tavern near French hill Sothington [Southington] Waux Spring's Mr. Aca Barnes kept tavern on sight of Ruben Frasts present house in Marham{?} The tavern was destroyed by fire. Encamped on French hill for {continued on 06\19\{1896}(Fr) one week. A spring on the old mountain road was opened by them while on their march. 07\01\{1896}(We) Thomas Melbourne Worked in April {followed by accounts} 07\12\{1896}(Su) JJ Byam 9.60 DJ Parter 11.16 07\23\{1896}(Th) Joe Slater{'}s child died this afternoon 07\24\{1896}(Fr) Clyde drew the first load of lumber from Mr. Bawleys steam saw mill 07\26\{1896}(Su) Scalts{?} tank 4'-2 x 6'-6" Clyde, Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, and Myself went to prospect for a ride, saw lots of huckleberries 07\27\{1896}(Mo) Went to the meeting of select-men and traction Companys officers to consider the layout on the old Cheshire road to the Calvary Cemetary gate. Selectmen ordered the track placed on the south side of highway 07\28\{1896}(Tu) Went to Bucks-hill Collecting{.} Wm Kimball brought 132' wood. Balance due LH Frost {calculation} 07\29\{1896}(We) {calculation} Went to Southington to LH Frosts and to Cheshire to Mr. Valentine's. Valentine paid $15.00 08\02\{1896}(Su) Brother Fred, Clyde and myself drove to Plainville Commuting via Southington. Met Mr and Mrs AB Pierpont and Mr and Mrs Byam with whom we ate dinner on the ground. {L}eft home at 9a.m. and got there at 1 P.M. {sic}. The meeting was a Sweed{t?} one while we were there and was led by Mr Garlanderer. 08\04\{1896}(Tu) JJ Byam, Lewis, Garrigus, Wm Atkinson,and myself being a committee, met to night to draft a set of bylaws for the Mad River Grange 08\05\{1896}(We) Today has been one of the hot{t}est days that I ever saw or felt 08\06\{1896}(Th) Very hot 08\07\{1896}(Fr) To day was hotter still Commenced working on the trolley extension from Silver Street to the City line to day. 08\09\{1896}(Su) Ther. 92 on Lichfield hill Fred, Margaret, and I drove to Litchfield, and stop{p}ed at Mr Crutches and Sarah Bissell's, then we drove to North Goshen, to Sam Gilletts, stayed over night with Malachi Gillette. a long and hot drive 08\10\{1896}(Mo) Fred and I drove from N Goshen to Huntsville then to falls village {sic}then to Lima Rock then via Lakeville to Millerton N.Y. and back to N Goshen 08\11\{1896}(Tu) Came home from North Goshen 08\14\{1896}(Fr) Had school meeting tonight- to see about painting and repairing school house{.} ajorned till next wednesday {sic} night to get estimate of cost. 08\16\{1896}(Su) Went to the Chaple Mr. Kellogg of Wolcott preached 08\18\{1896}(Tu) Worked rep{air} A.B.Pierponts Windmill and pump 08\19\{1896}(We) Had School meeting tonight{.} Mark Warner, Cha's Frost and myself were appointed a committee to paint and repair the school and fence etc, cost not to exceed $150.00 08\20\{1896}(Th) Went to Grange this evening 08\21\{1896}(Fr){measures} 08\22\{1896}(Sa) {measures} 08\23\{1896}(Su) {measures} 08\28\{1896}(Fr) Charlie Brown's wife had a baby boy this morning 08\31\{1896}(Mo)- 09\01\{1896}(Tu) {Listing of names and accounts} 09\95\{1896}(Sa) {illegible calculations} 09\06\{1896}(Su) Frank Allen 4.08 M. Archer 6.15 09\10\{1896}(Th) Mrs. Nelson Hall died today Uncle Joe worked on Ned Pritchards Ice houses straitening {sic} them up 09\12\{1896}(Sa) Mrs Nelson Hall was buried today{.} Mr Eddridge officiated and the Grange service was used{.} John Gallagher, Mr Lewis Garrigus, Wm Atkinson, Truman Kilbaurn, John R.S. Todd, and myself were the Pall barers. Interment {sic} at Pine Grove Cemetary. 1/2 day I worked on Pritchards ice house 09\13\{1896}(Su) Mr Kellogg of Wolcott preached at the Chapel today 09\14\{1896}(Mo) Worked on Ice House 10 hrs 09\15\{1896}(Tu) Worked on Ice House 6 hrs 09\16\{1896}(We) Worked on Ice houses {and calculations for wage at .25 per hour} 09\26\{1896}(Sa) Mary and I drove to North Goshen to day 09\27\{1896}(Su) Attended Church in the North Goshen meeting house. Had a very ple{a}sant service{.} In the afternoon Malachi, Lillie, Marian, Mary, and myself drove to Ivy mountains and went up the tower 09\29\{1896}(Tu) {diagram} 10\10\{1896}(Sa) Clyde paid Mr. Munger 5.00 on interest, making in all paid $36.00. 10\14\{1896}(We) Edson Hitchcock and Elnor Beckwith were married at the Second Church this afternoon 10\16\{1896}(Fr) {measure} Governor{'}s {L?}oat {Coast?} Guard of New Haven had a parade in town to day. 10\17\{1896}(Sa) Mrs Murice{?} Doolittle died this morning at 8 o'clock{.} Aged 85 years. 10\19\{1896}(Mo) The old shear shop burned this evening, discovered about 15 minutes of six o'clock by Julus Mass and Miss Nothrop, at half past it was all consumed. Loss about $40,000 10\20\{1896}(Tu) Mrs Doolittle was buried this afternoon at 2,30{sic) o'clock{.} Rev M Davenport officiated 10\23\{1896}(Fr) Robert E Pryor was killed this noon by his bull in the stable{.} During the war he was color bearer for the 20th Regt C.W. and was shot through eleven times. 10\25\{1896}(Su) Went to the Chaple Mr Hallister Preached {sic} 11\03\{1896}(Tu) National lection {sic} day{.} I voted for McKinley for president of the United States. and Hobert for vice president. Cook for governor of Conn{.} and Duell{?} for Lieutenant Governor{.} 11\06\{1896}(Fr) Went to Litchfield this P.M. and evening to take part in the election parade with the Mattahick {?} Drum Corps we had 31 men 6 Bass drums 12 snare drums and 12 fifers and drum Major. We saw our new governor Cook. hag{?} 2,000 men in line 11\13\{1896}(Fr) Uncle Joe went home from the shop to night and was taken sick 11\18\{1896}(We) Grange Fair opened to night 11\19\{1896}(Th) Aunt Amanda Bronson is 92 years old today In the back there is a Memoranda section with the notes: Gold Metal 94 parts Copper 6 parts Autimany add a little Magnesium carbonate to increase the weight Tough Brass 10 lbs copper 5 lbs spelter Cheap Brass for cast locks etc 10 lb spelter to 1 of copper {a note of measures} Jessie Frost & Abigail Van Julus " Alphons " Electa " James " Abigal " Jessie B. " Adam {?for next word} Marie of Duran Joseph Besoh{?} and Cornelus Johnson 103 acres for 4,80 {?for next word} 1748 Justice Warner went west about 1815 to Ohio Leni Bronson and wife Sarah Prindle Went to Ohio to (Columbia 1808 about) {sic} A Cash Account section follows the Memoranda section. The C.A. section contains names and accounts kept for each name. This is followed by an Expenses section which contains expenses for the refurbishing of the Mill Plain School, for which C.S. Miller was commissioned (this is mentioned in the diary). The inside back cover is covered with calculations. The back pocket contains a Grange membership card dated Dec. 31st 1896, a receipt dated Feb. 28, 1896 for $15.75 received of C.S. Miller to LL Emmout{?}, another receipt dated Nov. 21 1896 for 10 dollars from C.S. Miller to Spencer Pierpont, an empty envelope with the name "James J Egan" on the front and calculations for Oct. 28 and the address " No 26 Linden St" on the back, a square of paper with the note: Cheshire Con Oct. 10 1896 Mr C.S. Miller to Edwin A. Todd Dr to making 180 gals cidar at 1 1/2 cts 270 13 gals cider at 5 65 ____ 335 and a newspaper clipping from the Waterbury American about the new "Wide Tire Law." Miller The Standard Diary 1897, Published for Trade This diary begins with an Almanac section. 01\03\{1897}(Su) Jan 2 1898 Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel to day. Paid 3.50 Collected 1.00 05\26\{1897}(We) Had Chapel meeting this evening and the following officers were elected. Mark L Warner, Committee for the Episcopal denomanation {sic} Luther Bradley, for Methodist; Robert Warden, for Baptist and Myself for Congregational Edson Hitchcock, was elected Secretary Hiram Able was elected Treasurer, 05\30\{1897}(Su) Dr Anderson preached at the Chaple to day. Collected 2.18 06\06\{1897}(Su) Mr Nichols preached at the Chaple to day. Collected 1.95 06\13\{1897}(Su) Mr Mayl preached at the Chaple to day, there was collected 2.18 06\20\{1897}(Su) Mr Howell preached at the Chaple to day Collected .97 cts Irving was kicked in the head by the horse the wound was nearly fatal. 06\27\{1897}(Su) Dr Davenport preached at the Chaple to day Collected 1.73 Thomas Melbourn, and Mr Cawles, had each a child baptised in the Chaple. 06\28\{1897}(Mo) Had School meeting to night. for {sic} the election of officers, and to instruct the Committee and Treasurer to borrow money{.} Mark L Warner was elected Committee he having had 22 votes my-self 9 Wm Atkinson 2 and someone else 1 B.L. Haggett was elected clerk and Warren Hitchock Treasurer. Meeting ajourned {sic} till July 12th 07\04\{1897}(Su) Mr Nichols preached at the Chaple to day. Collected 1.64 07\08\{1897}(Th) Merritt Scott Died to day of heat desease {sic} and Dropsey. Aged 66 07\10\{1897}(Sa) Merritt Scott was buried from the Chapel to day 07\11\{1897}(Su) Dr Roland preached at the Chaple to day Collected 1.33 07\12\{1897}(Mo) Had {unreadable word] School meeting elected an auditor and ajourned 2 weeks. 07\14\{1897}(We) Reports have reached here of great riches of Gold being found in the Klondike region in Alaska. 07\18\{1897}(Su)Mr Eldridge preached at the Chaple to day Collected .79 cts 07\22\{1897}(Th) Thomas Milbourns 7 months old child died to day. 07\25\{1897}(Su) Thomas Milbourns child was buried from the Chaple to day. Mr Hallister officiated. Had no regular service. 07\26\{1897}(Mo) Had ajourned School meeting no business of importance transacted ajourned without date. 08\01\{1897}(Su) Amy Welton Artmeted{?} Welton Rishy Lerrell Davis Welton Trishie{?} Merrill Lauren Frisbie The above were Mrs Atkins school teacher in Mill Plain district. Mr Nichols Preached at the Chaple to day Collected 1.45 08\03\{1897}(Tu) THe Town set 86 men at work widening the road that runs from the Mattatuck Co's shop to Grange Hall. 08\07\{1897}(Sa) Had School meeting Dan Squires was Masen Moderator Voted to lay a tax of 5 mills on list last completed. Voted that we invite the members of the Town board of School Visitors to attend the next meeting which is to be held next Tuesday evening, ajourned to nex {sic} Tuesday eve. [[Charles Somers Miller 1898 small workbook]] Journal for 1898 The following is written on the inside cover in the upper right hand corner (price?): 70 The following names are listed in the section "Addresses and Memoranda" Fred D Miller Miss Louese Townson{?} Henry I Pond{?} Martin Buckmaster Otir Wisan{?} Fred D Miller F E Fuller{Fullen?} 01\01\1898 (Saturday) [[The following comment is written on this page: For more details see "Records" for 1898. Record books will follow - M{argaret Miller Northrop} Hall, 1943]] 01\02\1898 (Sunday) Mr Nichols 01\09\1898 (Sunday) Dr. Rolland Preached at the Chapel Collected 1.60{?} 01\10\1898 (Monday) E L Frisbie and Charle_{Charles?} Frost deeded to Wm Tabor 20,000 surface feet April 8 1889 for the sum of 2.00 dollars,. The above is bound__{bounded?} Northly{Northby!} an land of estate of Lydia Sackett Eastwardly{Eastwardby!} by Meride_{Meriden?} Road, Southwardly by land of Edward C{.?} Monnger{?}, and West by land of the estate. 01\12\1898 (Wednesday) Those who are to take part in Chapel entertainment Miss Fannie Porter{Parter!} Mr. Murry Beebee 1 7 Arthur Heaton 3R 6 Jennie Patetun{?} _R{3R?} Mrs. Byam 5 Hiram Able 4R Arthur Pierpont 1 Margaret Miller 7R 2 Miss Goldsmith 6R 3 Iva Miller 2 Main 4 Mary Porte{?} 01\16\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Howell Preached at the Chapel Collected 2.21 01\19\1898 (Wednesday) Misses Porter{?} and Bunker{"t" written above name, Bunkert?} Henry Cass Friends Famuir{?} Porter, Mrs. Hitchcock Murry Beiby{?} Mrs. Byam, Arthur Pierpont, 01\23\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Halloster Preached Collected 127{?} 01\29\1898 (Saturday) Mrs. Pryor Arthur Pierpont{?} Mattie Atkinso_{Atkinson?} Bertha French 01\30\1898 (Sunday) Dr. Anderson Preached Collected {blank space} 227 02\06\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Nichols Preached Collectio_{Collection?} 2.69 02\08\1898 (Tuesday) Trinity Quentitte{Quentille?} 02\09\1898 (Wednesday) Ed Todds{Todd's?} Orchestra Miss Dickinson 02\13\1898 (Sunday) Dr. Rooland Preached Collected 3.__{3.55?} 02\20\1898 (Sunday) No service, on{an!} account of storm. 02\22\1898 (Tuesday) Mr. Ables Picture 15x 20" 02\23\1898 (Wednesday) 1 Hellen Rogers 2 March and Dramatic{Drimatic!} 3 Mary Goldsmith 4 C S Miller 5 Margaret Miller 6 Mrs. Rogers 7 " " 02\24\1898 (Thursday) Recitation Sketch entitled Washingtons birthday Recitation Recitation Recitation Song Song {Does the list given on the page for 02\24\1898 correspond with the list of names given on the page for 02\23\1898?} 02\27\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Davenport Preached at the Chapel Collected 03\06\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Nichol_{Nichols?} Preached Collected {blank space} 198{?} Fran Grapaplan{?} entertained{?} - 6.70 03\09\1898 (Wednesday) Arthur Heaton Mr. Sincaster and M George Byan Mr. Stotan{?} Mrs. Burrett Mrs. Byan * Mrs. Andrews * Miss Haywood * Joe Sherwood __{?} {*check marks are written before these names} 03\10\1898 (Thursday) Recitation Laonard, (Mandolin and Recitation, Guitar) Violin Piano Recitation, Piano{?} R________{Recitation?} Ben Clotfield{Clatfield?}, Sarge {Does the list of names given on the page for 03\09\1898 correspond with the list given on the page for 03\10\1898? If so, please advise if the entries for these two dates should be input in an aligned form} 03\11\1898 (Friday) Gave Hotchkiss &{?} Templeton a note for $21.95 due 30 days after date. 03\13\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Maya 03\14\1898 (Monday) Nov 15{?} 1897 died Arthur Byington{?} at Kenasha{?}.{.?} Wis. 03\20\1898 (Sunday) Annie Pierpont_{Pierponte!} Fined at Chapel 03\27\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Davenport{?} Preach__{Preached?} Collected 3 05{?} 04\02\1898 (Saturday) Mr. Nichols Preache_{Preaches? Preached?} Collected{?} 2.00 04\10\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Waters of Wolcott Preached at Chapel Collected 2.14 04\17\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Mc Kudly{Mc Keedly?} preached Collected 2.82 04\24\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Nichols Preached Collected 1.73 05\01\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Nichols{Nicholi!} 05\15\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Howill{?} Preached Collected, {blank space} 1.80 05\16\1898 (Monday) John Bropbey send Mr. Saults{?} to my place after a sleigh and paid me 3.00 05\17\1898 (Tuesday) Mr. Mr.{?} Kudley{Keedley?} {this line underlined} Preached Collected {this line underlined} 282{2 82?} 05\22\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Davenport Preached {-?} Collected 3.40 05\25\1898 (Wednesday) Morris Alcott{?} & C S Miller Luttun{Luttur?} Bradley Robert Worden{?} Arthur Pierpont Sec J I Able{?} Treas J. H. Garrigus. S__per{Surper?} Henry Cass, Libraran{Librarian?} Bessie Garrigus, Organ {ist written above line, Organist?} 05\29\1898 (Sunday) Dr. Anderson, (Preached) 05\30\1898 (Monday) Haratia{Horatio?} Chapman Chaplain East{Eeast!} Haup___{Haupto_?} G.A._.{?} Eugene Nichols East Haupto_{?} __{?} Pax{?} 2.41 Rev. M_{Mr.?} Marshal{?} Moadry __od{road?} __{?} Addren{?} 06\05\1898 (Sunday) {M crossed out} Dr. Buckley Preached 06\12\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Parry Preached 06\19\1898 (Sunday) Dr. Davenport{Davenpoit?} Preach__{Preached?} Collected 06\26\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Basselt{Bassett?} Preached{Preahed!} Collected 1.34 07\03\1898 (Sunday) Dr. Perry Preached at the Chapel Collected 1.01 07\10\1898 (Sunday) Rev. W S Rofter{?} Preached Coll__t__{Collected?} 2 33{?} 07\24\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Water_{Waters?} of Wolcott Preached at the Chapel Collected 07\31\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Buckley Preached at the Chapel Collected 1.5_{1.51?} 08\07\1898 (Sunday) {"Mr. Hollock" is crossed out} Preached Collected 1.90 Dr. Faslet{?} of Newark N.J. 08\14\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Raflet of Waterville Preached Collected 3.0_{3.08?} 08\21\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Howell Preach{Preached?} Collected 256{2 56?} 09\04\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Perry{?} Preached Collected 1.04 Approved Dexter Northrope{?} bill of $10.00 for Janitor{?} 09\14\1898 (Wednesday) E. S. Pritchard, Grand list 1100 House{Haus! Hous!} was gone in 1790 but the barn was standing. Ezekial Welton lived{?} there and Jacob Tyler 09\16\1898 (Friday) Star Unio_{Union?} line Price 59 cts per 100 lbs Blakesll{?} charges 1.25 per hr about 5.00 09\18\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Bassett Preached at the Chapel Collected 1.94 09\25\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Waters of Wolcott Preached at the Chapel Collected 2.26 09\27\1898 (Tuesday) To day is my birth day. {Insert mark and mathematical equation at the end of the above line} Drove to day from home to town 2 miles thence to Watertown 6 miles, then{them!} to Bethlehem 6 " " " Romford 8 " " " Woodville 3 " " " Milton{?} 6 " " " W Goshen 4 " " " Goshen center{caps?} 1 1/2 " " " North Goshen 5 " " __ 41 1/2 Where I stayed with my cousin Malachi Gillette. 09\28\1898 (Wednesday) Went to Obed Stannard's, " {'?} Harris [Horace?] Stannard, and to Norfolk Center 09\29\1898 (Thursday) Went to the Ivy Mountain town by way of the Black lands from thence through the Ovaitt [Oviatt] district to Cornwall hollow saw the Gen Sedgwick{?} mansion and the polace where he is buried in the cemetery at Cornwall hollow{hollaw!}, then we went to Cornwall Center a distance of 4 miles, the view from the North as we came into the villeage was grand with Cornwall plains in front of us, there we turned East towards W Goshen _ut{but?} when we got to the top of the mountain in sight of Goshen we turned East and went towards the N__d{Naid?} of Tyler pong and then N past some fine farms thense East again to the foot of the hill, then N to the Miles place on the high land W {M?} of the Ivy 09\30\1898 (Friday) {Is the next entry or beginnin of next entry a continuation of the entry for 09\29\1898?} mountain{mountan!} tower, then turned East, and went ____{down?} Went to tipping rock 10\01\1898 (Saturday) Came Home De Grasse arrive in the Chesapeak on the 30_{30-?} of Aug, and landed 3,_00{3,200? 3,000?} under the Marqui's{Marquis?} De St Simon, these troops were drawn from the garrison/garrisson{?} of St Domimgo{?}, On the 2___{23"?} of Aug the bound {is there a mark or superscipt text?} de Barras sailed from New Port R I,{, or .?} with eight ships of the line amd 14 transporte{transports?} ladened with heavy artillery and stores{?}, and formed a junction{Junction?} with de Grasse {accent mark over the a} on the 14__{14th?} of Sept. 10\02\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Perry{Perrey?} Preached Col 1.75 Rache{?} du Fermay was in the army that acted against{aganst!} Burgayne, Baron St Ovary{?} was in the volunteer service, De Cadray, an officer of rank in the Franch army, was drowned in the Schuyklill a few days after the battle of the Brandywine {,?} in his eagerness to cross it to joing{Join?} Washington{,?} The Chevelier Duplesis Maudit displayed the greatest bravery at Germantown and Red Bank, and was assasinated{assassinated!} at Port-au Price, The heroid gallantry{gallentery!} of of{written twice} Lieutenant Flurry at stony point, can never be{he!} forgotten Debuysson{?} was not ____{less?} brave. 10\03\1898 (Monday) Went to town in fo__{fore? forse?} noon and Worked for Warden in the afternoon. Marquis De Chastellux 10\05\1898 (Wednesday) Mr. Barmer was buried from the Chapel to day. 10\09\1898 (Sunday) Mr. Holmes{Holme's?} House burned this morning at about 10 clock{10 oclock?} 12\11\1898 (Sunday) Collected 2.21 12\30\1898 (Friday) H W Warner Oakvill_{Oakville?} Co__{Conn?} {In the section "Memoranda" addresses and locations are listed for the following names: Mr. E S Frisbie Iseral Beldwin, Hannah Chatterton Mr. Farley Farnk Farley Moses, Ovaitt [Oviatt] Goshen Aaron Nelson Herman} {The following note is in the section "Memoranda" Ladies Union Paid 260.90 Due Earnest Robenson{?} 25.00} {In the section "Cash Account":} Chapel Expense Jan 12 5 gals oil .50 Warren Hitchcock Carrying minister 7.00 //end of small book// Journal 1898, C.S. Miller [bd 10/17/1990 ,11/27; ml 12/1989] 01\10\1898 {Monday} First thing this morning Mary, Clyde and Irving went to work at the wash. I read a time in Poultry Bigelow's history of German liberty, had breakfast and went to work. Mother told me this fore noon that Miss Bradly and the seven other ladies who furnished the last supper at the Chapel are talking of giving a supper and musical entertainment in the Grange hall to raise money to buy a carpet for the Chapel. Mr. Warden called while I was at supper to see about the entertainment we are going to give at the chapel Wednesday eve. After he had gone, I hitched up and started for town but the roads being very icy and my horse smooth, I left him at my shop and went the rest of he way afoot and by the electric cars. Went to see Mr. E. L. Firsbie, S. R. about the old journal of Judah Frisbie's. He said that he had had it but he thought it had been returned to Uncle Dwight. Then I went to the Town Clerk's office and copied parts of the deed from Charles Frost and E.L. Frisbie trustees{??} for the estate of Lydia Sackett to Wm. Fabar trustee for a certain piece of land on which now stands Grange Hall, then came home and went to bed. 01\11\{1898} (Tuesday) This was a dark morning. Looked like rain, sun has not shown to day. Clyde and Irving had the chores done before I went to work. At seven o'clock I carried the milk to mother and sent a notice of the meeting of the Ladies Union to be held in the Chapel on Wednesday evening by Iva to be published in the Evening American. Then went to the shop to work. At noon went to see Miss Fatern{??} about getting three school children to give recetations {recitations} at the Chapel Wednesday eve. She thought they would. From here went to the Mattatuck Shop and Miss Nellie Cass{??} about some musicians that Henry had seen. Nellie said they could not favor us this time but would some other time. I sent George Hine to Rogers Bros. to see Miss Bumbart and find wheather {whether} she and the Porter girls would play for us. She said they could not. I rode home from the shop with Marrie{??} Reid this evening and he told me that Edward Mc Manus had bought a building lot west of my house. Showed me the place. Mr. Warden called to see me about the Chapel entertainment. Also talked about the sleigh seat. Clyde and Irving went to Frost's Pond to scate {skate} but returned at supper time as the surface of the ice is soft and skating poor. Had supper at 6.36 and then hitched up and went to prepair {prepare} the Chapel for tomorrow's meeting. Called on Hiram Able on the way and got .75 cts. of him to pay for 5 gallons of kerosene oil which I sent to Wilson's store and got it, cost .50 cts. Stopped at John French's a little while. We laid the fires, filled the lamps, etc. and came home and to bed. 01\12\1898 (Wednesday) We got up late this morning and I did not get to the shop till half past seven. It has been warm and foggy all day. They have had to stop the ice cutting. Sent George Hine up to Wolcott to see Mrs. Adelbert Hitchcock and find if she would play on the piano this evening at the Chapel. She said she would if she could. This evening we {??????} Irving, Clyde and myself went to the Chapel to the supper and entertainment of the Ladies Union. The attendence was small on account of the weather, it being very dark and foggy. From the supper the Ladies netted $6.29. The entertainment consisted of the following, 1. Recitation by Margaret Miller; 2. Recitation by Miss Mary Goldsmith; 3. Piano Solo by Iva Miller; 4. Reading by Mary Porter; 5. Recitations by Hiram Able; 6. Recitation by Jennie Patchen; 7. Recitation by little Arthur Heaton which was very good and was enjoyed by all. The meeting was out at 10.30 o' clock and we came home across the lots, I having my lantern to light us on our way. Will go to bed at about 11 o'clock. I would like to state here that I payed {paid} Dr. C. Art Ward two dollars towards the four that I owe him for doctoring my lame foot. He says he can cure it he thinks. I hope he can. It is certainly better than it has been before in four years at this season. Last year I measured the hight {height} of my children on the first of January and this year we did the same. Clyde, aged 13 years and three months is 5 ft. 4 1\2 in. high and has grown 3 1\4 inches during the year. Irving, aged 11 years and 8 months is 4 ft. and 8 inches tall and has grown two inches during the year. Margaret, aged 8 years and 11 months is 4 feet and 3 inches tall and has grown 2 1\2 inches during the year. Ruth, aged 6 years and 11 months is 4 ft. and 1 inch tall and has grown 2 3\4 inches during the year. Frank{??}, aged 5 years and three months is 3 ft., 6 1\2 inches tall and has grown three inches during the year. Raymond, aged 2 year and 6 months is 2 ft. and 11 inches and has grown 5 inches during the year. A Frenchman who lives in Cheshire whom the call Chip had a team horse die on the road at East Farms this afternoon while drawing a load of wood to town. My wife Mary measures 5 ft. high and I, 5 ft., 11 inches. My weight is 172 lbs. 01\13\1898 (Thursday) This morning I pasted news paper clippings in my scrap book while the boys did the chores, and after eating breakfast went to the shop. The weather has been warm and plesant {pleasant}, more like early May then January. Pierpont brought my dinner to me this noon, and I got through work at 5 o'clock this evening and came home and had a fine supper of boiled long{??} clams. Spent the evening reading, writing etc. To bed about 9 o'clock. 01\14\{1898} (Friday) Everything was on time this morning and we got a good start. Fireman Kilbourn told me this morning tthat Arden H. Coe's barn burned the last of last week. Mr. Reid, the sealer of weights and measures, came to my shop to seal my scales for which he required a fee I objected on the ground that I did not use the scales enough so that it made any difference. He claimed that it was law and that it should be done and ordered his assistant to bring in the weights. I asked in regard to the law and he said he was acting under the state law and shoved me a paper certifying that Perry Morris and and Mr. Doram, selicitmen {selectmen}?? had appointed him. I told him that I should not have it done and would remove the scales or have them smashed as I had not much use for them and did not buy or sell with them, and talked law{??} where upon he gave up. But while we were carrying on the controversy in one room about one pair of scales, the assistant had tested the other pair and seated{??} them. They were correct before and I know they are now. Frank came to see me this afternoon, he not being at work because he did not feel well. He told me of the big smashup at Benedict & Burnham's where he works. He said that the 20 inch shaft{??} had great flaws in it and was not solid in the center where it broke. Had wrecking men from Providence to take off{??} the 40,000{??} gear and 60 torn{??} fly wheel. Gussy, Frank's wife, called at our house and took supper with us after which she went home and we, Mary and I, went to the Grange. Just as we were about to start, Mr. Warden called and wished us to go with him to a meeting of the officers of the Ladies Union at my father's house. But as we were not officers, we went to the Grange. Miss Fatern, the school teacher, came and asked if I thought it would be proper to use some of the school money to buy an intermeade {intermediate??} reader which she needed. We (Mr. Tucker and myself) advised her to see Mr. Basset of the school board and tell him that we though it was best to do so. Charlie Hotchkiss, myself and Mary walked home from the Grange together. Charlie said that his father saw a great fire off to the west of us {?????} some large barn was on fire. To bed at 12 o'clock. 01\15\{1898} (Saturday) It began snowing at about 5 o'clock this morning and snowed and rained all the forenoon till about 4 in the afternoon when it changed to fog and wet. I sent Clyde horse back to Arthur Merrindus{??} in Southington to measure his cart body. In the afternoon Mary, Irving and Harris Tucker went to town and got the oysters for tomorrow breakfast and Mary changed a pair of under rappers and drawers for me, went to bed early as I was not feeling well, about 9 o'clock. 01\16\1898 (Sunday) This morning is clear but the ground very muddy. Had breakfast of oysters at about 9 o'clock after which Clyde, Pierpont and myself went to the Chapel to get it ready for the service there{??} afternoon. After fires were built and other araingements {arrangements} made, I set Clyde and Pierpont home afoot and I drove up around by the red bridges to Mr. Atkinson's after which I drove home getting there at noon where I found Mary getting Clyde, Margaret and Ruth ready for Sunday School. They went at about half past one and Mary and I started for service about half past two. There was a fair after service{??}. Mr. Howell preached. He is from Simonsville. Bessie Simons played the organ and Mrs. Mauwaring{??}, Miss Agnes Able and Hiram Able sung in the choir. After supper, I went to visit Major Tucker. We spent the evening reading Peyp's {Pepy's??} diary which he owns and which was published about 1850. I beleave {believe} it was written in short hand from 1652 to 1722 about, from thence home and to bed. 01\17\{1898} (Monday) This morning we arose earlier than usual and Clyde and I ran the washing machine before to go to work. This forenoon Major Tucker sent me a letter stating that he wished to hire two girls to commence work this afternoon and said he had promised work to Dolly Marrow and Hattie Kilbourn and wanted to know if I thought they would answer. I told him that he knew as much about the Marrow girl as I did but judging from what I knew of the Kilbourn folks, I though Hattie would do very well. This afternoon George Hine went to Dentist Brown's to have his teeth filled. James Porter sent Dexter Northrop to borrow my horse and wagon to go to Ned Pritchards to get a farming mill{??}. It has been freezing cold all day and skating is good to night and Clyde and Irving went to Frost's Pond skating where most of the young folks of the neighborhood were having a good time. Send {Sent??} Clyde to the Chapel with the team to get the scraps and garbage left from the last supper and also to Mr Able's to get Mr. Burr Blakeslee's (of Watertown) history of Woodbury. The thermomiter {thermometer} is now 9 degrees below zero, to bed at half past nine. To day David Down's horse ran away with Frank Frisbie and Emma Cornelius. He started by Merritt Scatt's place and ran to the red bridges where Frank turned him to the left to go up the hill toards {towards} Atkinson's instead of going towards Waterbury Center and in making the turn both of them were thrown out. Emma struck on her back and side and was not injured. Frank hurt one knee but held to the horse and reined him into Mr. Haggett's fence and stoped {stopped} him. 01\18\{1898} (Tuesday) To day has been cold and clear. The ice men are at work again. When Clyde went to school this morning I had him bring the team to the shop and sent Harry Kilbourn down town to Hotchkiss and Templetons to get spokes to repair David Downs wheels with so I had the team to drive Carrie{??} to dinner. After dinner, Pierpont went to the shop with me. I took some forgings to the Mattatuck shop and Pierpont went with me. I stoped {stopped} at the office and talked with Mr. Tucker a while. Pierpont did not like it because I did not show him the machinery. After we got back to the shop, Pierpont went down to David Porter's and stayed til 4 o'clock. After school the boys did their chores soon as possible and went skating on Frost's Pond. My foot pained me nost of the time to day. 01\19\{1898} (Firday) This morning had for breakfast spare rib and baked potatoes. The day has been fine for this time of year. Little Pierpont brought my dinner to me in his little express wagon. This afternoon he and I took the trolley cars and went to Waterville to see Adam Fabor about some money he owed me for a wagon. He gave me ten dollars. I had not been in Waterville before since the trolley cars began to run nearly a year ago. New house are being built everywhere. It seems as if the place was as large again as it used to be. We got back to the shop at 10 minutes to five after which we went home to supper after which Clyde, Irving, Verniem{???} Able and Harris Tucker and I went to the Chapel and took down the green trimmings which had been up since Christmas after which the boys went to Frost's Pond skating and I came home and spent the rest of the evening reading Cothane's{???} History of Woodbury. Went to bed at 11 o'clock. 01\20\1898 (Thursday) This morning dawned dull and rainy, a little snow fell before daylight. My sister Cara came home from Bristol last night and left her grip at the New England Rail Road Station and I sent Harry Kilbourn after it this forenoon. Mr. Simkins left word that he wished me to shoe his horse and I went over to the Mattatuck shop where he worked afer it when Mr. Tucker saw me and said he wanted a joiner for a few hours. I asked him if it was anyting {anything} that I could do and he said yes, I want a tumbling barrell set and counter shaft-|put up. I went to work at it and Paul Hesphelt{??} and I had it running at three o'clock. To night Mary and I went to the Grange where the new officers were installed for the coming year. Wilson Pierpont was installed master. I beleave {believe} his election was not legal. I sent a notice to be published in the American that the Mill Plain Chapel would hold its annual fair Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Feb. 8th and 9th. I would say that Mr. Tucker and I left the Grange at quarter past ten and we went to his house where we looked at the papers and New England magazines till Mary called for me when we came home. Got home at 12 o'clock and then to bed. 01\21\1898 (Friday) This morning was clear to work at 7 o'clock. This forenoon Major Tucker sent his horse to me to be shod. He called for it himself and showed me a letter for it himself written Wilson L. Pierpont in which he signified his intention to decline serving as one of the finance committes in the Grange, to office he has been appointed. Pierpont brought my dinner to the shop this forenoon. Heard to day that Mrs. Hattie Austin, widon of the late William Austin of East Farms was married to Homer Twichell of Union City. I have suffered to day from a bad cold and tonight I wished to send Irving to H.W. Lake's store for some medicine but Mary got very cross and I went myself after I got home and ate my supper of biscuit and milk. I listened to Mary read to the children from Uncle Tom's Cabin after which I looked over some New England magazines and then to bed at midnight. Dr. C. Art Ward left two bottles of medicine with me this morning for my foot. 01\22\1898 (Saturday) It has been dull weather this morning and most of the day. This evening it began snowing about 7 o'clock. After a breakfast of pancakes, I went to work. PIepront went down with me. Went to see mother about getting her book of Geneology of our ancesters {ancestors}, the Somers. This forenoon Fred Upson of Wolcott told me that he desires to sell his farm of 110 acres as he is getting to {too} old to work it. George Benham has taken the agency for selling fertilizers and asked permission to tack an advertising bill on my shop which I gave him and he in turn gave me a ride home to dinner. For dinner we had spiced meat and boiled onions, etc. after which I hitched up and drove to Mill Plain Chapel and took out the furnice {furnace} grate and took it to my shop and repaired it. This afternoon George Hine and myself went to the Chapel and put the great {grate} back in the furnace and cleaned out the Chapel and put things to rights after which I came home to supper. After supper Mary and Irving went to town after the oysters and crackers for tomorrow's breakfast and also to get Irving a pair of shoes and rubbers, and I went to the Mattatuck shop and numbered their furniture nail machines. Clyde and Irving and some of the East Farms boys went to Shelt Hitchcock's pond fishing but they did not get any and came home tonight, tired and hungry. It is reported that Hattie Austin is not married as Mr. Twichell is sick. After writing the foregoing which I finished at about 12 o'clock, I picked up a book, the title of which was Uncle Tom's Cabin and I read in it till 3 o'clock in the morning. 01\23\{1898} (Sunday) This morning there was a little snow on the ground but before noon it rained which took away most of it. Sister Iva came up this forenoon and brought home a little table which she borrowed to play whist on. I did not go to the Chapel to day. This afternoon, Mary and I drove over to Nellie's to visit her as she was sick. Ater we got home, had a supper of boiled chickens after which I went to visit Major Tucker and stayed till half past ten when I came home, the wind blowing hard. 01\24\1898 (Monday) Went to work this morning. Mary's wrist was so bad from the sprain she received at her sister Nellie Connor's last evening that she could not wash. The weather this morning was cold and windy at noon. It was cold but not so windy in the morning and to night was cold and clear starlight. This noon I drove round to Dr. Ward's and got his Phaeton{??} Carriage and took it to the shop to repair. I stoped {stopped} at the Mattatuck shop and left Pierpont to hold the horse while I went in and left the Examiner News papper, which Cara gave me to have Mr. Tucker take to Mrs. Dickenson. This afternoon Edward McManns called to see if his carts were done. Mr. Warden called at 5 o'clock and brought me home. He had just came from Miss Bradley and he said he was mad because she did not know that all the arrangements for the fair were make {made} and she had not been consulted. Found Mary and the boys washing, ate supper of warmed oysters and grape sauce, bread and butter etc. after which I took my turn at the washing machine. Clyde has gone to Frost's Pond to skate. Irving and Margaret have gone up to Hiram Able's place to slide down hill back of the house, Ruth and Raymond are in bed and Pierpont is still up and running about feeling good. Clyde and Irving have returned and have been having trouble about the lantern. Irving took it to Able's to see to slide down hill and set it at a turn in the path where they were sliding. They also had another lantern up the hill. Clyde and Willie Couklin{??} wanted the lantern to see to skate with and Clyde came and took it and went to Frost's Pond with it. Irving and Vernum{??} Able went to the pond and watching their chance, jumped out of the darkness and grabed {grabbed} it and ran to Able's. Clyde and Willie followed after a time but Vernum heard them coming and blew he light out and hid the lantern in the backhouse. Clyde got Able's lantern and ran but had to bring it back. After a time they found out{???} lantern but it was so late they had to come home and they were complaining of each other and both were mad. 01\25\{1898} (Tuesday) This day has been cold and damp and about quarter past six o'clock it began to snow. I sawed wood all the forenoon for George Alexander and ground bone for A.B. Pierpont. Mr. Mashier called this afternoon and told me that they expected to have the trolley cars running to Mill Plain sometime this season. I sent Irving to Luther Bradley's with 16 lbs. of ground bone. Robbie Hall stayed to supper, had biled {boiled??} eggs, bread and butter. Mary had been ill to day with the sick headache and Cara came and did the work. Mary is better this evening. This evening Robert Warden came and left three of his boys while he and his wife went to town. The boys went to Frost's Pond to skate but it snowed so hard that they had to come home, after which they cracked some walnuts and had walnuts and apples and played games till Mr. Warden came. Went to bed at ten o'clock. 01\26\{1898} (Wednesday) This morning it was cold and snowy. The snow lay on the ground about 5 inches deep. I hitched up into the horse sled and drove around by Mill Plain to help make a path for the children to go to school. Stopped at Mr. Tucker's and carried him to the shop. On the was we saw that Mr. Lewis Beckwith had the frame of his new house up, had six men working on it yesterday. This noon I drove to the chapel and made the fires and got it ready for the meeting this evening, then came home and had dinner of cold sparerib potatoes and bread and butter. On my way back to the shop I stopped at the Mattatuck shop and left a bill with Mr. Tucker, which he said he would have paid in two or three days. This evening we went to the supper and entertainment at the Chapel. There was a large attendence considering the snow. The supper was good, but I did not have any. The entertainment consisted of a child's play called lyy{??} lo land in which Margaret Miller, Jennie Squires and Flossy{??} Able took part, also music by Miss Amelia Burnhart on banjo, Miss Fannie Porter on banjo, Miss Nellie Porter on banjo and Miss Iva Miller (my sister) on the piano. The older Miss Fannie Porter gave a recitation and Miss Baldwin sang a solo {????} the entertainment was concluded by music by the Misses Burnhart, Porters and Miller. The ladies cleared over nine dollars off from the supper, now to bed at twelve o'clock. I might add that Mary took the horse and pung{??} and went to East Farms this noon and got Mother Pierpont and Mrs. Warden and some cake from Mrs. Milan Northrop and cake and biscuit from Miss Hattie Pierpont, Mrs. Warden and Mother Pierpont brought provisions, in all it was a large load. She took it to the Chapel, on the way she took in Mrs. Hiram Able and more cake and children (all ready she had her own two two, Pierpont and Raymond) so that load helped to fill up the Chapel treasury. 01\27\{1898} (Thursday) More cold weather this morning. Started for the shop at 7 o'clock and Pierpont walked down and had Harry Kilbourn make a little wagon for him. Burt Frisbie came this morning to have me fix his ox sled and told me that Frank C. Chipmous'{??} father has come home after being away over 30 years. Pierpont brought my dinner to me. Clyde got home from school at about three o'clock on account of the teacher, Miss Whitean being sick. He had to go to FredWood's for hay and I rode to the trolley cars and went to see the Rev. Dr. Anderson about preaching at the Chapel Sunday. He sold me the history of the Souldiers {Soldiers} Monument which he wrote himself. Came home and after supper, Mary, Mother Pierpont and myself went to the Grange, Joe Huey brought a note from Mr. Tucker saying that he wanted to see me soi a recess I went over and stayed till quarter to ten. When I went back again and got the women and drove home, it was snowing some, to bed at 11 o'clock. The piano was taken from the Chapel to day. 01\28\{1898} (Friday) The weather this evening was cold. After breakfast of cold ham, potatoes, bred {bread} etc. I went to work, rode to the shop with Dick Morgan who was coming to town with celery, etc. Elmer Hitchcock came to the shop and had two cards{?} of wood sawed{??}. I put iron shoes on the horse stead for Frank Lackhart who is drawing ice. Mr. Emmaus who drives Frank Lackhart's team said that yesterday he killed three musk rats on the ice pond. The spring holes are all frozen over and the rats have to run from the overflow to the head of the pond where the brook comes in and while they are running he chases them and kills them. Dr. C. Art Ward had sleigh shaft repaired this forenoon. This afternoon I {????} took Mother Pierpont home. In the evening Mother and Cara called at our house. Clyde and Irving cracked some walnuts. I wrote a letter to Lizzie Warner asking her to go to Father's to practice a duet with Cara to play at the Chapel. It is cold now, 10 o'clock, 2 above zero. To bed. 01\29\1898 (Saturday) This morning was cold. The thermometer stodd at two above zero. Went to work at 7 o'clock. Clyde and I went to town this forenoon and I went to the Waterbury National Bank to get a check cashed and Clyde got the oysters and crackers for breakfast also one set of horse shoes. Came to Fred Wood's place and got a horse sled which he wished me to make over. Came home to dinner. Clyde carried me back to the shop and then he went to Mr. Norman's shop and got .50 cts. which he owed me thence to Earnest Robinson's house and told them that Doctor Anderson was to preach at the Chapel tomorrow, and then to Mark Warner's and gave my letter to Miss Lizzie who said she would come to my Father's Tuesday evening to practice on the piano. I left the shop to come home at five o'clock and met Clyde and Irving coming with the horse and bob sleigh after me. Clyde and I came home and Irving went to town afoot to carry a dressed rooster to Miss Pickett, the dress maker. To day has been very cold. The thermometer stood at two degrees above zero at 6 o'clock to night, now at nine it is 6 above and looks like storm. To bed at 9 o'clock. Wm. Norman moved his machinery out of the old tannery building, had three or four od Ralph Blakeslee's teams and moved it to the cars on the Meriden Rail Road at Silver Street. Is going to take it to Thompsonville. 01\30\1898 (Sunday) To day is Sunday and the weather is very cold. This morning we lay in bed till after 9 o'clock not feeling very lively owing to my lame foot and to a hard cold I have had for several days. The thermometer has not reached a point above 12 degrees above zero during the day and at half past six this morning it was 10 below. We went to the Chapel this morning and got the fires ready and warmed it up, at one Mr. Tucker came and took me to ride in his sleigh which he bought in Montreal. We went to East Farms and from thence to Woodtick and back to the Chapel where we attended service, the Rev. Dr. Anderson preaching, there was a good attendence considering the cold weather. It was 2 below zero at six in the evening. After supper, I went to Mr. Tuckers and we read Peyp's {Pepy's} Diary about the coming restoration of King Charles the Second in 1660. Towards ten we (him and I) went to bed, we got up at five in the morning and I came home. My wife did not like it because I stayed all night, because she slept so cold, said her feet had not been warm since yesterday. At ten last night when Mary came home from father's, the thermometer was 13 below zero. 01\31\1898 (Monday) When I got home from Major Tucker's this morning the thermometer was at zero and it had been snowing since five o'clock. After breakfast went to work. Came home to dinner, it snowing all the time. Pierpont went back with me and staid all the afternoon and came to supper with me, had boiled cold canned beef{??} and bread for dinner and a pot roast and baked potatoes for supper. It has snowed all day but the snow is but about five inches deep on the ground now. Bessie Miles went to work in the Mattatuck shop to day sticking safety pins on apers. Each paper holds twelve pins and they earn one cent for sticking twelve papers. But small as this seems, some of the girls earn one dollar and fifty cent sper day. To bed at 9.30 o'clock. 02\01\1898 (Tuesday) It snowed all night and the wind blew a gale and this morning the snow was about twelve inches deep on the level and drifted bad. We had breakfast of pancakes after which Clyde and I hitched Old Jack into the sled and went around by Mill Plain to break the roads out. Stopped at Major Tucker's and he got on the sled and rode to his shop. Clyde and I went to Father's where we found him digging out. Cousin Mary Goldsmith was there having stayed all night and was in a worried state of mind because she could not get to her school upon East Mountain. I told her i would carry her up on the sled if she would ride that way which she seemed much pleased to do so after she had had her breakfast and I had drank a cup of hot coffee, we started. Wm. Peck came for Father, just as we started with a team, and carried him to the East Mills to work, so we had the benefit of his trade that far after which we had to make our own path till we struck the Prospect Road. When we got to the School House it was drifted in, the drifts being about five feet deep and she could not get in. It was useless to dig out as it was still snowing and blowing and was very cold and the paths would soon fill up so she concluded to come back home again as no scholars could get to school and she could not teach. On our way down the mountain we met some of the fisherman going to the City reservoir to fish, the Water Commissioner having granted permits and this is the first day. One load passed us going to town which had stayed on the pond all nigh that they could have the first chance and began fishing at midnight. They were a snowy, frozen looking set, all of them. At the foot of the mountain we turned to the right and came across the Harper Ferry Road at the head of the pond (Brass Mill). We made the first track through to Frank D. Casse's{??} house. I got to the shop at 9 o'clock. I heard to day that Bessie Miles did not go to work in the shop yesterday as her mother would not let her. Heard to day that Mrs. Thornbury was going to give up her school in Mill Plain and going to New Haven to teach. This will please a good many of the people as she is not as good a teacher as we have been in the habit of having. Came round by Mill Plain, home tonight, it was very cold. To bed at nine. 02\02\{1898} (Wednesday) Got up at 4.15 this morning, built the fires and wrote a letter to cousin Clarissa Curtis of Stratford about the information I wish to obtain in regard to the Somers family. After a breakfast of pan cakes and molasses, I went to work. This fore noon Major Tucker sent for me to come to his shop as he wished to see me about the Chapel Fair. Pierpont brought my dinner to me but I had to take it home again as I had to go there after my team to get freight from the depot. Hear to day that John Mariaty{??} made and assignment to Robert Lowe. Had a letter from brother Fred of Detroit saying that a large party had left there for the Klondike region in Alaska to dig gold. Clyde, Mary and myself went to Major Tucker's to rig Clyde and Harrice out like Indians to see goods at the Chapel Fair. To bed at 10.30. 02\03\{1898} (Thursday) To day has been the coldest day I ever knew, I think. The thermometer this morning stood 22 degrees below zero and no time has it been above 20 above and tonight it was 18 below. We have fine sleighing. This morning went to the shop. The large rubber reclaiming shop in Nangatuck was burned night before last. It was a building 400 feet long and 75 ft. wide and 4 stories high built of brick three years ago, loss over 500,000 dollars. To night went to the Grange. The thermometer was 10 below zero when we started. I sent a letter to Mrs. Irving Prier by Mr. Schmit asking her to recite at the Chapel Fair next Tuesday evening. To bed at eleven. 02\04\1898 (Friday) This morning the thermometer registered four degrees above zero. There is about eighteen inches of snow on the ground and sleighing is exellent, has been cold all day. To night the thermometer was 10 below zero. After breakfast I went to mother's and wrote a notice to be published in the Waterbury American that the Mill Plain Chapel was to have a Fair next Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Went to see Mrs. George Hitchcock this noon. Mr. Tucker carried me there. Mrs. Hitchcock says that Fannie can take the part of a squaw at the fair. This evening went to a meeting at Mr. Tucker's of those interested in the Fair. Took in Mr. and Mrs Able on the way. Went to see Mr. B. Franklin Haggett about a show case and also to get him to help make the booths at the Chapel Monday evening. Left Mr. Tucker's for home at 10 o'clock. To bed at 10.30, tied and weary with this day's toil and chilled with the cold. 02\05\{1898} (Saturday) This morning was cold but not as cold as yesterday morning. The thermometer was four above zero. By noon it was warm and the sun shown bright. In the afternoon it began to rain and has rained and thawed ever since. This morning Mr. Tucker called and carried me to the shop. I sent Clyde out with a lot of bills to collect. Clyde brought me home to dinner. The Warden boys were here to dinner but did not eat till after I was through and gone to the shop. This afternoon Clyde went to Wolcott to collect bills, had but little success. The piano arrived at the Chapel this afternoon. Mr. Porter bought it in New York (with the Chapel's money). It is an Estey and they say it is fine. Mr. Porter and Miss Bradley called on me and charged me not to let the children put their fingers on it, and to keep the cloth cover on it and to remove the cover so that people may see it tomorrow. After work Mr. Tucker brought me home where I found Mr. Warden who had called to see me about the programme for the Chapel fair. After supper Clyde and Irving went to town to get the goods for tomorrow morning's breakfast and do other errands. 02\06\{1898} (Sunday) Got up at seven o'clock this morning and took my bath. The sun rose clear and warm which melted the snow very fast. After breakfast Clyde, Irving and myself went to the Chapel and got it ready for the service. The new piano was there. It is a very nice {???}, "oak case" Estey make. Came home and went to work on the Indian wig that Clyde is to wear at the Chapel Fair, after which I went to the Chapel service. Got there at about ten minutes before the meeting closed. Sent Clyde and Howard Neil over to Southington to get a lot of Indian relics which Howard had. After supper I went to Mr. Tucker's and stayed till eleven o'clock, {?????} home the moon shining bright. 02\07\{1898} (Monday) Got to the washing as soon as possible and to the shop at noon. I sent George Hine to brother Frank's in Simonsville with Clyde to get his flint {????} musket to have on exhibition at the Chapel Fair. Telephoned to Ed Todd in Mill Dale but could not get him. Went to the chapel to help get ready for the fair which begins tomorrow evening. 02\08\{1898} (Tuesday) To day the weather is quite warm, every thing is hurry and bustle in preparation for the fair. This noon Cara and I went to the Chapel and it took us till near six at evening to get my show case ready. The fair in the evening was a success. There was a large number of people present and they nettted about fifty eight dollars. The supper was well patronized but the price charged was too low, being ten cents. The literary programme was in the charge of Mr. Warden and myself and was as follows. The first number was music on the new piano by Mrs. Bavier{??}, then a violin solo by Miss Ruth Blair, next a duet by Miss Fannie Morris and Miss {---------} Next a short sketch entitled "Coming{??} to Woo" by Miss Mamy{??} Gearing, Miss Hattie Murry and Harry L. Merrill which was very amusing, also a song by Mrs. W.S. Rogers who was accompanied by her daughter Miss Sallie Rogers. During the singing of this last piece, as Sally was reaching towards the end of the piano with both hands, the top of the piano stool toppled over and she fell to the floor, which caused some confusion for a few minutes, but I got the organ stool and she went at it again. I stayed to night in the Chapel there being a great value of goods there which the people though needed protection. Mr. Tucker stayed with me. We took the blankets and robes for the fortune tellers tent and made a bunk on the platform and went to slleep but the fire went out and I had to get up { ? ? ? ? ?} rebuild it so I was awoke most of the night. 02\09\{1898} (Wednesday) Went to work to day. The weather was warm and sleighing is fast disappearing. Went to the Chapel this evening at about 5.30 o'clock. There was a large crowd there, so large that had many more come they would have had to been packed so close that there would not have been breathing room. Every thing passed off quietly and all had a good time, except Miss Bradley who was jealous because she could not run everything as she wished and she tried to make all the trouble she could. In spite of her efforts, the fair was a success and they netted a little over one hundred dollars. The entertainment of which Mr. Warden and myself had in charge consisted of, first a piano solo by Miss Burrett, second a recitation by Mrs. Irving Prier, 3rd music on mandolin and piano by Mr. and Mrs {------}, fourth a recitation by Miss Buchannan, fifth a tambourine drill by a number of young ladies of the Waterville school. I gathered some of my things and came home and to bed at two o'clock in the morning. 02\10\{1898} (Thursday) This day has been a tired and painful one for me. My foot pained me so I could not work this afternoon very much. The weather has been fine and warm. Went to the Chapel this noon and again this evening and removed some of the stuff away. The ladies have cleaned it out and put things to rights for which I am very thankful, to bed at nine. 02\11\1898 (Friday) This was a very foggy morning and remained damp and cool most of the day. I drove to the shop and sent Harry Kilbourn to town to get some lumber. After he had gone, Thomas Heaton came with his wagon to be repaired. Mr. Daniel G. Porter called to see me about the new piano in the Chapel. Mr. Tucker called to see if I knew of any young man in this part of the town whom he could get to work at press work. He told me to call and see hime at noon. I went and gave James Porter his Indian spear heads, also his Indian gouge{?} and talked with him some time, after which I went to dinner, after which Mary carried me to the Mattatuck shop where I saw Mr. Tucker, and he said that he had a job at press work where he could pay from one to two dollars a per day and asked me if it was any thing that I would think of. I told him that it was but that I would like a little time to think it over, to which he agreed. Worked in shop all afternoon, and walked home at night. Mary sent Pierpont home with Grandma after which she drove to town and got home at about six o'clock. Had supper of canned lobster. After supper, Clyde, Irving and myself paired and sliced half a bushel of apples while Mary read in "Little Women" to the children. My foot is very painful. Mr. William Norman moved away from the Dolittle place yesterday to Thompsonville, this state. Fred Woods told me that he went away and left unpaid to him a coal bill of one hundred dollars. I am told he has not paid his shop rent for two months and is behind on the house rent. I am glad he is gone for I think him a hardened villain. It is my opinion that he set the shear{??} shop on fire as suspicion points that way and Fred Brainard told me that "he done it by God just as true as I stand here". He was standing in front of my shop door at the time and I noted it in my last year's diary of that date. 02\12\{1898} (Saturday) To day has been a damp foggy one. At breakfast I took a strong drink of boneset{??} tea to cure my cold. Irving drove me to the shop. This forenoon Mr. Tucker came for me to come to the Mattatuck shop to move out four safety pin machines and to bring a boy. Walked home which was very hard as the road was slippery and I was very lame. After dinner, went to the Mattatuck shop and had George Hine help me take down the pin machine which the company has sold. Mr. Tucker told me that he had told Mr. Judd that I was coming to work for them, said that Mr. Judd was well pleased. Recived {Received} a letter to day from Mr. D. G. Porter in which he stated that he had caused the removal of the seat on the west side of the Chapel. He has done it against the desires of the Chapel committee. Clyde went to town tonight for oysters for breakfast. Mr. Warden called to see me about the Gropaphone{??} entertainment to be held at the Chapel next Friday evening. To bed at nine. 02\13\{1898} (Sunday) This day is the Sabbath and I did not hurry to get up, started to about seven o'clock and put my truss{??} on, but my wife played about me so affectionelly {affectionately} that I went back to bed with her and lay till nine o'clock when I got up and got the rest up. I kindled the fire and cooked the oysters and sat down to breakfast when Major Tucker called and wished me to go out to Mother Pierpont's after some apple with him. When we came back he carried me to the Chapel (whither the boys had all ready gone) to get it ready for the service. After we came home I shaved and got washed up and wrote a notice to be read in the Chapel in regards to the Graphaphone{??} entertainment to be given in the Chapel next Friday evening. Then Mary and I went to the Chapel and heard Dr. Rooland read the Episcopal service and preach a very good sermon. Came home and had a supper of chicken and then went to Mr. Tucker's where I stayed till eleven o'clock when I came home across lots, found the way very dark. Mr. Tucker told me that he intended me to take charge of the upper floor in the Mattatuck shop and to get ready soon as posible so good night at 12 o'clock. Margin between two pages: We played "Hunt the Thimble" and had ice cream. Very elegant. 02\14\{1898} (Monday) Arose a half past five this morning. The sun came out bright and the day seemed as if it would be a fair one, but it rew dull towards noon and soon it rained, afterwards turned to snow and sleet. I went to work at the Mattatuck shop this morning taking out the safety pin machines. After we had got them to the lower floor we went to work packing the pins that were made and packed about twenty four hundred pounds in barrels, this together with what was in the boxes made about thirty six hundred pounds which we took down the elevator. Came home to dinner and had Pierpont drive me back to my own shop where we repaired M. Simpkin's buggy after which we (George and I) went again to the Mattatuck shop and finished packing pins, wire etc. Then we went back to my own shop and had not been there long when Charlie Hotchkiss brought a note from Mr. Tucker asking for one or two boys to help load freight. I sent George Hine over. Arthur Merriman of Southington called and paid me what he owed me. Clyde brought me ten dollars from Adam Faber of Waterville which I very much needed. I in turn paid it to Harry Kilbourn as a part of his wages due. Horice{??} Tucker invited Clyde, Irving, Margaret and Ruth to his house to spend the evening, it being his birth day. He is twelve years old to day. To bed at 8 o'clock. 02\15\{1898} (Tuesday) This morning was bright and fair but during the forenoon the weather grew dull and rain and snow this afternoon. Wrote a letter this morning to Mary Goldsmith asking her to have her scholar's sell tickets for the Phonograph entertainment to be given in the Chapel next Friday evening. And also asking her to recite a piece on Washington's birthday night. This morning Mr. Tucker called and asked me if Harry Kilbourn would come to work for him at $1.25 per day. I asked Harry and he wants till morning to think it over. 02\16\{1898} (Wednesday) This morning the snow had fallen to the depth of three inches by daylight and the weather was cold and the wind blew a gale which had continued all day. Towards night the weather grew clder till it became one of the owrst nights known in this section. Wrote a letter to Charles S. Gillette of Cheshire about the card that I am building for him. This evening Howard Neil called at our house. 02\17\{1898} This morning the thermometer registered 4 degrees above zero, and the wind blew very hard. Traveling is exceedingly bad on account of the weather and drifts. I heard this morning that the new United States Man of War ship Maine was blown up at 10 o'clock Tuesday evening in the harbor of Havanna, Cuba; 233 men lost their lives. I {???} the Spainards have done it which I think them mean enough to do. I hope they will have to suffer. Col. Phillips of Pittsfield is to give a grapophone entertainment in the Chapel tomorrow evening, and Clyde and I went to night and got the Chapel ready from thence we went to see Mr. Warden and found him recovering from sickness which is the reason why I have not seen him before. 02\18\{1898} (Friday) This morning was warm and pleasant but after noon the weather changed and it began to rain and snow so that the evening wet and unpleasant. Mr. Warden went to the New England Depot and met Col. Phillips who was to give the entertainment at the Chapel this evening. Mother kindly kept him over night. To bed at 12. 02\19\{1898} (Saturday) This morning was fair, arose a quarter to six, had bacon and boiled eggs. Went to the shop at 7 o'clock. Clyde came at 10 minutes to eight and took the team and carried Colonel Phillips to the New England Rail Road station to take the train to Cheshire via Plainville where he is to give an entertainment this evening. Came home to dinner of bacon and potatoes. Found that the boys had split a good pile of wood so I let them go to East Farms to play with the Warden boys. Went to the Chapel to night in the rain to practice for a drill to be given next Wednesday evening. Sent my team with Clyde after the girls who were to take part in the drill. They were Lena Hurlbert, Ida Spender, Fannie Hitchcock, Clara French, Cara French, Elsie French, Dolly Marrow, Margaret Miller and Ruth Miller, Olive Able. Stayed till 10 o'clock, had Clyde carry the girls home and then we came home, it raining very hard. To bed at 12. 02\20\{1898} (Sunday) This has been one of worst days that I have ever seen, as regards the weather. Rain, snow, sleet and cold have prevailed all day and night. There was no service at the Chapel, only six or seven persons being there. I in the evening went to Major Tucker's to spend the evening, but the weather being bad I stayed all the night and came home at 6.30 in the morning, it still raining hard. A curious incident happened to me last evening. As I was going to bed, my rupture slipped out and I could not get it back again. After trying for some time and failing, Mr. Tucker went for Dr. Ward but while he was gone it slipped back again much to my relief and joy. The disaster which befell the Maine man of war last Tuesday when she sunk and 265 perished seems to be uppermost in the minds of the people and many think that it will result in war with Spain. 02\21\1898 (Monday) Wet and stormy all day and night. On the ills the trees are ladened with ice which the oldest inhabitant says he never saw equaled before. In many places the roads were impassable on account of the fallen trees, orchards are ruined in many instances and maple, elm and ever hickory are broken to pieces. In the valleys near the streams there is no ice at all, but above a certain level, it begins and the higher up one goes the thicker it becomes. Went to the Chapel to night to practice for the exercises on Washington's birthday evening. (I should say the evening of the 23rd). To bed at 12 o'clock. 02\22\{1898} (Tuesday) It has rained and snowed all day, mud very deep. Busy as I can be making preparations for the Chapel entertainment to morrow evening. Rufus Carley called and got a Drum Corps uniform for Mr. Humphrey, also Mr. George Thompkins called and borrowed another. They are to use them at the old fashioned supper to be given at the Second Congregational Church this evening in honor of Washinton's birth day. 02\23\{1898} (Wednesday) This morning was wet and more mud than I have ever seen before in this locality. There is not a whole tree left standing in Ed Todd's or the Barnes' peach orchards owing to the ice storm of Sunday. Mrs. Rev.{??} Philipps{??} of Prospect measured the circumference of the ice on a twig the size of a lead pencil and it was 18 inches. Great damage is reported from the hills of Wolcott, Prospect, Watertown, and Waterbury. This evening we gave the entertainment at the Chapel in honor of Washington's birthday. It was well attended and a great success, many said the best entertainment ever given in the Chapel. The programme consisted of, 1. Song, Red White and Blue, 2. Recitation by Margaret Miller, Entitled Feb. 22nd, 3. Patriotic Recitation by Mary Goldsmith 4. Song, Star-Spangled Banner, by Mrs. Rogers, 5. Recitation, Washington, by Helen Rogers, 5. March and dramatic sketch, entitled Washington's Birthday, 6. Recitation by myself entitled Washington's Birthday, 7. Song, Yankee Doodle. To bed at 12.30 o'clock. 02\24\{1898} (Thursday) To day the sun has shown and the weather had been fair which we appreciate as it is so long since I have seen the sun before. Last night I caught a bad cold which had made me feel bad to day. This evening Mary went to the Grange but I stayed home and went to bed at 8 o'clock. 02\25\{1898} (Friday) To day I took the signs down from the front of my shop. Miles Payne called to see me about buying a lot of stock{??} that I have on hand. Grandma Pierpont is with us to day. She told us that Hattie Pierpont has gone in to town to board till the first of June. 02\26\{1898} (Saturday) To day has been damp and cool. Sun shone some. Mr. Clark's barn burned last night. Mr. Clark lives on the Woodtick Road above Ashton's Corner. 02\27\{1898} (Sunday) Got up at 8 o'clock this morning. Had breakfast of oysters, after which Clyde and Irving and myself went to the Chapel and got it ready for service. George Somers called to see us. He hopes that there will be war with Spain. Many seem anxious for war but I hope that I may not see it, but no one know what the result of the sinking of the Maine man of war in the harbor of Havanna may be. Went to the Chapel this afternoon and heard the Rev. Dr. Davenport deliver a discourse on Abraham Lincoln which seemed very appropriate as the 12th of this month was the anniversary of his birth. Also he held the executive office of the Nation previous to the war of the Rebellion, and as many now think that we are now on the verge of war. He (Mr. Davenport) made it seem very interesting. There was a large attendence at the Chapel considering that the traveling was very bad, on account of the mud. 02\28\{1898} (Monday) To day the weather has been damp and raw, most everybody has colds. The ice has disappeared from most of the ponds, and the icemen are very blue as they have gathered only about half a crop and many of the ice houses are empty. Mr. Theodore Patchen moved to town to day from Mr. Zenas{??} Bowen's place above the red bridges on the Woodtick road near the Mad River. Will Blewitt will move in soon. 03\01\1898 (Tuesday) The weather to day has been good considering that it is the first of March. Went to night and cleaned out the Chapel cellar and then sent the keys to Dexter Northrop who is to be the janitor in the future. This morning the dwelling houses of Charles E. Smith and George E. Benedict situated on Highland Avenue on Town{??} Plot{??} were burned to the ground. The fire started in the cellar of Mr. Smith's house, and the crackling of the flames awoke the family and they has barely time to escape in their night clothes. The flames from the Smith house set the Benedict house on fire and that in turn ignited Mrs. Cowen's house but the firemen saved that with the chemical engine. The Benedicts saved most of their furniture, but the Smith's lost most of all. Mr. Warden told me that he intends to resign from the Chapel Committee, also from the Entertainment Committee of the Ladies Union. I hope he will not. It is all on account of the piano trouble. 03\02\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather to day has been very good considering the time of year. Told Mr. Able of Mr. Warden's intended resignation. He thinks that every endeavor should be made to keep him on till the end of the year. Mr. Warden called in the evening and he is a little undecided whether to resign or not. 03\04{03}\{1898} (Thursday) The weather to day has been fine and clear although there was about one inch of snow on the ground which fell last night, but it had all gone before noon. I received two envelopes from brother Fred who is in Detroit containing newspaper pictures of the wrecked Maine in Havanna harbourm also war vessels, guns, arms etc. In the evening Mary went to the Grange but I stayed at home as I was very tired and wished to put in a good day's work tomorrow. When my wife got home from the Grange, she was greatly excited because her brother Wilson L. Pierpont (who is Master of the Grange) and his wife Annie (who is Secretary of the Grange) were in their respective places when she got there, after a time recess was declared and she did not see Wilson or Annie again, but just before the Grange closed a note was received by the acting Secretary which stated that the Master and Secretary had a new ten pound son. 03\04\{1898} (Friday) This morning after a breakfast of bread and milk I went to work, Irving carried me down to the shop. At noon Pierpont brought my dinner to me. We have worked all day on Mr. Gillete's double dump cart. The weather has been cloudy all day till about 4 o'clock, it began to snow and now it is snowing hard and the wind blowing hard also. Went to bed at 9 o'clock. 03\05\{1898} (Saturday) Got up this morning a little before six, had breakfast of boiled beans, got to the shop before seven and worked as hard as we could all day on Mr. Gillette's cart but did not get it finished. Clyde worked in the shop to day. Sent Irving down town to Fred Wood's this forenoon after a bail of hay and to Hemingway's this afternoon after a quart of oysters and three pounds of crackers. Sent Clyde up to Charlie Moshier's to see about a banjo club that he had spoken of coming to the chapel to play next Wednesday evening. Charlie said that two of the young men would come and bring their young ladies with them and wished us to meet them at Haden Street. I saw by the paper to day that three men are to start for Klondike Country from here next Monday to dig for gold. I would like to note here what is termed a "good joke" and one of those jokes which was practices{??}, I remember when I was a small boy while the war of the Rebellion was in progress. Billy White lives with his wife and four children in a shanty like house in the lots west of the West Wolcott Road back of the residence of Truman Kilbourn. They are simple minded people and do not know of our nation's present trouble with Spain. Last Thursday afternoon two young men of the neighborhood disguised themselves and went to Billy's house and knocked at the door. Mrs. White came and they asked if Mr. White was in. She said that he was away at work. They then told her (one of them) them he was Mr. Moor and was a recruiting officer for the government from New Haven and that Billy had been drafted and they were after him. She swore at them and said, you can't have him. They said two of Mr. Kilbourne's sons were going and that John Gallagher was going to be Captain. She was frightened and said, you shan't have my Billy. Just then her boy, a lad of twelve, came round the corner of the house and they said they wanted that boy. She said, you shan't {??} my boy and she pushed him into the house and shut the door while she scolded like a tiger. The boys went away that they would give her till Monday to get ready, and then they would come after them. After they had gone, she went to see Mr. Gallagher and found him already gone away. This {??????} the climax and she went about the neighborhood bemoaning her faith and heaping curses upon the head of that d---{???} Republican President McKindley of Connecticut who was going to take her Billy away from her and oblige her to go out at house work to earn a living. 03\06\{1898} (Sunday) Got up very tired this morning. After breakfast of stewed oysters, Clyde went to the Chapel to show Dexter Northrop about taking care of it. I spent my time in reading and cleaned the cellar some, took my bath and wrote the following note for the Chapel Committee to sign: To the Officers and Members of the Ladies Union of Mill Plain Chapel We the undersigned Committee of Mill Plain Chapel Society, having the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) which we wished used towards the purchase of a carpet for the Chapel, respectfully gequest that you obtain samples and prices of such carpets as you think most fitting for the Chapel. And after the cost has been obtained, we will endeavor to procure the balance needed, if it cannot be raised otherwise. Signed, Robert K. Warden Luther Bradley Mark L. Warner Charles S. Miller I took this document together with my own bill of $10.00 for janitor service and left them with Mrs. Annie Munson who is Secretary of the Ladies Union. Went to the Chapel at three o'clock. Mr. Nichols preached. Collected $1.58, had a fair attendence. In the evening I went to Mr. Tucker's where I stayed till 10 o'clock. When I came home he came with me across the lots, it being bright as day. 03\07\{1898} (Monday) Worked hard all day. Nothing worthy of note happened that I know of. 03\08\{1898} (Tuesday) To day the weather has been fine. One every hand we hear war talk and all are greatly excited because the government has appropriated $50,000,000 for cost defense. 03\09\1898 (Wednesday) This morning I was awakened by the fire whistle blowing three, which met{????} exchange place. I looked out the window then looked at the clock and saw that it was quarter past one o'clock. Soon after, I heard another alarm which meant a large fire, and called out the whole fire department. I awoke Mary and we looked out of the window and saw a red spot on the clouds and soon heard an explosion and immediately the whole heavens were illuminated as if by magic. I called the boys to look at it, and Margaret, Ruth and Pierpont got up. There was another explosion and up went a shower of sparks. It looked as if the whole City was on fire. I was at a loss to know where the fire was and as Clyde wanted to go and find out, so I told him and Irving to take their wheels and ride in and see where the fire was and then come and tell us. They were gone about two hours. They told us that it was Trott's Bakery on Spring Street, a three story brick building and that the explosions were caused by gas which they used in making soda water. In the morning I learned that the {????} was $50,000.00 and that 1,500 barrels of flour were lost. The firemen had a hard time to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings. The cause of the fire was as follows, In one of the upper stories near the elevator shaft was located the kettel {kettle} where they boiled the doughnuts and they had had a fire under it and a boy attending. The boy went away, the grease boiled over, took fire and ignited the wood work and thence the fire. I have almost forgotten whether I had any breakfast, can't tell of what it consisted. Pierpont brought my dinner to me at the shop. Worked hard all day finishing up work and cleaning out the shop. Had dried boiled peas for supper, and then went to the Chapel to the Supper and entertainment given by the Ladies Union of Mill Plain. The supper consisted of oysters cooked in various ways for which a charge of 20 cts. was charged. Then entertainment consisted of 1. Recitation by Arthur Heaton, 2. Violin Solo by Mr. Stoton, Miss Edith Burnett accompanying him on the piano, 3. Messers Sincaster and Leonard on Mandolin and Guitar, 5. Recitation by George Byam, 6. Recittion Mrs. J. G. Byam. The musicians were recalled several times. When we came home we brought Mrs. Able and Mrs. Morrow with us in the wagon, it being very muddy. To bed at 11.30 o'clock. 03\10\{1898} (Thursday) To day the weather has been fine, got up at 6 o'clock and wrote the following notice for publication in this evening's American. The Supper and Entertainment given by the Ladies Union of Mill Plain Chapel last evening was a decided success. The entertainment program was a{??} very pleasing and well received. Mr. Staton's violin solo was som much appreciated that he was recalled and responded with other selections. Miss Edith Burrett was his accompanist. The selections rendered by Messers Sincaster and leonard on mandolin and guitar received a warm encore and they responded with other fine selections. The recitations by Master George Byam was warmly applauded as were the others of Arthur Heaton and Mrs. Byam. Mary or{??} I did not go to the Grange. 03\11\{1898} (Friday) Mr. Phalen of Long and Phalen called this afternoon to see me about renting my shop, told him that I would rent it for $25.00 per month and he could make what he could off from that. We agreed to rent it for $30.00, he to have $5.00 and I $25.00, he to do all the business, sell the stock tool etc. at an inventory price and turn the money over to me. 03\12\{1898} (Saturday) This forenoon I sent a note to Mr. Tucker asking him how his neck was, as he had a carbuncle, he sent word by Irving to have me come and {???} care of him for the night. I went and found that Dr. Axtelle and Anderson had cut it open in the morning. I waited on him during the night. He was out of his head the early part owing to the ether he had taken but was not rational the last part. I would note here that I worked this forenoon in my own shop and I expect it is the last half day's work that I will do for customers as I expect to go to work for the Mattatuck Company next Monday. 03\13\{1898} (Sunday) I stayed with Mr. Tucker to day which is Sunday. Had breakfast with the family. John and Ed Pierpont called in the afternoon, as did Mr. Otis Northrop also at evening. Mr. Tucker is getting along very good. 03\14\{1898} (Monday) Had breakfast at Mr. Tucker's this morning, after which I went to my shop and hung up Mr. Lawlor's, Mr. Tucker's Arthur Pierpont's and Dr. Ward's wagons. At half past twelve I went to work at the Mattatuck Shop at setting up machinery and doing other odd jobs. In the evening I went to Major Tucker's and dressed his neck. I would here note that as I was coming home from Mr. Tucker's I saw the Northern Lights shine brighter than I ever saw them before. They were in the shades of Blue, White and Red. It is an old saying that they are a sign of war and certainly they were bright enough to mean something. I have heard the Old Folks say that the year before the Civil War began they seen{??} frequent and of brighter hues than they have been seen since. Whether they are a sign of war or not, I think that was will soon be upon us. 03\15\{1898} (Tuesday) Went to work at the Mattatuck Shop this morning. This noon Joe Huey called me out of the shop after dinner and told me that Mr. Tucker wanted me to come to his house right away and fix the bandage on his head and neck. He had been to Dr. Axtelle just before noon and had it done up but it failed to stay. I put it on and it stayed all right. I went up again in the evening and stayed with him all night. In the morning he seemed much better. 03\16\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather has been fine today and the frogs can be heard peeping. They were first heard Sunday. Worked to day at the Mattatuck Shop. 03\17\{1898} (Thursday) The weather has been fine today. This noon Mr. Tucker asked me if Wilson Pierpont's wife was dead. He said that Mrs. Dickinson heard the little French girls ask Ausin{??} B. Pierpont how she was and he only said a few words and they {???} oh isn't it too bad, so she{???} judged that she was dead. I went and asked Paul Hesphelt and he said that she was. It seems that she died at about 8 o'clock this morning. She was 39 years old, the same age of myself. She leaves an infant child and six children. 03\18\{1898} (Friday) The weather has been fine today. They have appointed the funeral of Mrs. Wilson L. Pierpont to be held in the Chapel Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Irving took Dr. Ward's Phaeton Carriage home this morning. 03\19\{1898} (Saturday) The weather this morning was very dull and foggy and at about 9 o'clock it began to rain and continued to rain hard for about two hours and a half. I have worked about the Mattatuck shop at odd jobs all day, i.e. making a belt tighten, took down a countershaft and tightened a pulley on it, and worked making a bench in the blacksmith shop. Went down town this evening and got a pair of overalls for which I paid .40 cts. and also went to see Mr. Jones about the Insurance on my shop. Came home and went to bed at about half past ten. It soon began to lighten {lightning} and thunder and there was quite a shower, the first this year. 03\20\{1898} (Sunday) Got up at eight o'clock this forenoon and the boys and myself went to my shop where we stayed till about ten o'clock when we came home and had breakfast of stewed oysters after which I wrote and read till one o'clock when we got ready and went to the Chapel to Mrs. Wilson L. Pierpont's funeral. This I think was the longest funeral ever held in the Chapel, all the seats being filled as well as all of the standing room being taken and a great crowd outside who could not get in. Rev. Mr. Buckley of Trinity Church officiated. The pall bearers were Arden Coe John Gallagher, Arthur Pierpont, Thomas Melbourn, Harry Coe and John Todd. It was a grange funeral and the grangers came from neighboring towns. There must have been over 400 people present. After supper went to Major Tucker's. Had been there a short time and was sitting in his room up stairs reading, when we heard a loud noise in Mr. Parsley's room. Mr. Tucker knocked on the door and hearing nothing opened the door and looked in. He called us{??} in alarm and I went and we found Mr. Parsley (the school teacher) lying on the floor unconscious, the blood running from his mouth and nose. They called Dr. Ward soon as possible and it proved to be a fit. After about 15 minutes he recovered consciousness and we put him to bed. He seemed much better. I stayed with Mr. Tucker all night. 03\21\{1898} (Monday) Worked to day at the Mattatuck shop in the forenoon making a bench in the blacksmith shop. At noon Mr. Brower{??} came and we went to work making steel buttons on his new press, which strikes 116 times per minute and makes three buttons at every stroke or 348 buttons of steel per minute. The weather has been damp and it has snowed. 03\22\{1898} (Tuesday) The weather to day has been dull and it snowed very hard at noon. The old Hobert{?} Austin place at East Farms burned last night. It is supposed that it was set on fire. It was owned by Mrs. Margaret Bonette. Wrote a notice of the young men's supper to be given in the Chapel on Wednesday evening, to be published in the American. 03\23\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather to day has been better than yesterday, but still it was dull some of the time. Went to night to the Chapel to the supper and entertainment. There was a large crowd there. 03\24\{1898} (Thursday) Weather to day has been cool. Mr. Tucker told me today that Mr. Parsley is going to give up the school. He has rented a farm in Washington and is going farming. He is a fine teacher. Mary went to the Grange tonight. 03\25\{1898} (Friday) The weather to day has been fine and springlike. Bluebrids and robins have been singing, the grass is turning green and it now looks like an early spring. To night the young folks are having a dance at John French's and some of the older ones are having a party at Ed Todd's. Joe Huey has my horse and has taken Miss Fatem{??} and my sister Cara. Hiram Able called this evening and wanted to know what I though of Mark Warner and Miss Fatem{??} taking the money that Mrs. Phillips raised to buy books with to buy ice cream for the children the last day of school. I like to have the children have a good time, but think the books of more consequence. Mrs. Andrew Reid of Niagra Street was burned to death this afternoon, her dress catching from a bonfire in her garden. 03\26\{1898} (Saturday) The weather to day has been fine. The buds are bursting on my plum trees and trailing arbutus{??} is blossoming out. Great excitement prevails to day throughout the nation on account of the naval board's{????} report regarding the blowing up of the Maine Man-|of-|War in the harbor of Havanna by which 264 men lost their lives. The report was made public yesterday, and is to the effect that the Maine was blown up by a submarine mine and holds Spain responsiable {responsible}. Our government has requested Spain to withhold her torpedo flotilla now enroute from the Canary Islands to Cuba. This she has refused to do and war seems immediate. The Government is working night and day fortifying New York harbor and are going to erect batteries at New Haven and Bridgeport. Orders issued to day directing one old stile {style} moniter{??} to Portland, Me. and two to Boston. Mr. James Porter was 80 years old to day. 03\27\{1898} (Sunday) The weather to day has been fine and clear. Went to the Chapel. Dr. Davenport preached. There was a large attendence. 03\28\{1898} (Monday) Saw a rainbow in the West this morning while I was coming home from Mr. Tucker's where I stayed last night. 03\29\{1898} (Tuesday) The weather to day has been damp and rainy. Mr. Fred Parnclee{??}, agent for L.L. Ensworth called on me to day and I payed him five dollars on the account I owe Mr. Ensworth of Hartford. Mr. Warden and his wife called on me at my shop, (where I and the boys were sawing wood this evening) and told me that Mrs. Warden and my mother and Mrs. Meatt{??} had been to look at carpets for the Chapel. 03\30\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather this forenoon was wet but a noon it cleared up and was nice this afternoon. Mrs. Hattie Austin and Homer Twitchel were married to day, and have gone south on their wedding tour. He is about 74 years of age and she is 47. Mr. Warden called this evening and told me that he and his wife have been to town and bought the carpet for the Chapel. It cost 67 1\2 cts. a yard. 03\31\1898 (Thursday) It began snowing this morning at six o'clock and snowed till noon, when it cleared up and the sun came out bright. This evening it is growing colder. Had breakfast of codfish, then went to work. Mr. Leach came to work on the nail machines this morning in the place of Carlie Dec{??} who has got through. Dewitt Larahee{??} of Southington got through to day. Went to night to the Chapel to let in some men who were coming to measure the floor for the carpet. They were to be there at 8 o'clock , waited till half-past eight and they did not come. Then went to Mr. Rodier's with a petition to have the Traction Company extend their lines to the Grange Hall and he signed it, then went to Mr. Gallagher's, from thence to Mr. Hurlbert's, thence to Mr. Atkinson's thence to Mr Spender's, thence to Mr. Jones', thence home, and to bed at ten o'clock. 04\01\1898 (Friday) Got up at 5 o'clock. Breakfast of bacon and eggs. Weather to day has been clear and cool. Left the shop this afternoon and went to the factory of the Waterbury Brass Co. where I got sixteen names on the petition to have the trolley line extended, in the evening went with the petition to Mr. Augustus Moshier's and from thence to Mr. Theodore Munson's thence to Mrs. Charles Frost's and Warren Hitchcock's thence to John French's thence to Hiram Able's, thence to Walter Garrigus', thence Mr. Andrews, thence to Robert Hotchkiss on the Cheshire Road, thence to Mr. Lee's, thene to Robert Barrett's, thence to Mr. Andrew's at the Wedge Place, and Mr. Blackburn's thence to Morris Reid's, thence to Henry Wedge's, then home and to bed. 04\02\{1898} (Saturday) To day the weather was clear and cool this morning but at noon it began to rain and later it turned to snow. Clyde and Irving started at a little before seven this morning with their bycicles {bicycles} and went to East Farms where they met Mort Pierpont, Clarence Warden, Burt Pierpont and then they all went to Meriden thence to Chshire thence to Roaring Brook in Cheshire and from there home, the whole being 33 miles. 04\03\1898 (Sunday) To day the weather has been very cold. Frank and Mr. Lounsbury called to see me this afternoon. Had to act the part of janitor at the Chapel to day, as Dexter Northrop is sick. Went and stayed with Mr. Tucker tonight. 04\04\{1898} (Monday) The weather has been cold and damp all day. Went out this evening with the petition for the extension of the troley track. Went to George Johnson's first and thence to Frank Judd's, thence to Luther Bradley's, thence to John Reid's, thence to Mr. Rudolph's, thence to Mr. Hock's, thence to Prime Lyman's{??}, thence to Robin{??} Scott's (widow of Edward), thence to Wilson Pierpont's, thence to Charlie Brown's, thence to George Benham's, thence to Sidney Bronson's, thence to Robert Warden's, thence to Milan Northrop's, thence to Ed Wetton's and from thence home and to bed, having procured in all 206 names. 04\05\{1898} (Tuesday) It began snowing at about six o'clock this morning and has kept it up all day with much wind. 04\06\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather to day has been cold and disagreeable. It began snowing hard at about 5 o'clock this afternoon and continued about one hour. The papers stated to day that the Spaniards had a ship chase an English merchant vessel and fire on her, thinking her to be an American vessel. It happened off the coast of Spain. To night went to the supper and entertainment at the Chapel. The supper was in {the} charge of Bertha French and Fannie Hitchcock, assisted by Edith Pierpont, Mattie Judd, Nellie Cass, Olive Able, Lena Hurlbuert, Hattie Kilbourn, Clara French, Adaline Marrow, Daisy hall, Ida PSender, Hattie Colkings[??}, and Minne Judd. The entertainment program was a very pleasing one and well received. Miss Sadie Haywood's piano solo was warmly applauded. Miss Nellie Andrew's song was som much appreciated that she was recalled and responded with other excellent ones. Miss and Miss Haywood's duet pleased everyone and won applause, as did Miss Susie Bronson's and Miss Haywood's recitations. 04\07\{1898} (Thursday) The weather to day has been cool but fairly clear. Great excitement prevail throughout the land on account of the war. To night I took the Traction Petition and went about Mill Plain, first to David Shannon's, thence Mr. Aitchenson's where his wife was putting a baby to bed, thence to Mr. Lockhart's who is newly married, thence to Oscar Farichild's whose wife is sick with a new baby, thence to Mr. Price's where Mrs. Price was putting a baby to bed, then up stairs to a German's where the woman had a half dressed baby in her lap, thence to Frank Welton's where they have a pair of young twins, thence to Mr. Twiss, where Mrs. Twiss was undressing a baby, thence to Mr. Thackeries, an old couple thence to Daniel Squire's where they had a baby, thence to Mr. Gillette's where they would not let me in on account of Mrs. Gillette being sick with childbirth, thence to Mr. Dee's, an old couple, thenc to Mr. Heaton's where I did not go into the house, thence to Mr. Strobell's where hey had a young baby, thence to Ned Pritchard's, they are to old to have babies, thence to Mr. Chapman's whose wife will have a baby soon, thence to Mr. William Blewitt's whose wife has a baby, thence to Peter Lund's where I saw no baby, thence home and to bed with the thoughts in my mind that Mill Plain is a very prolific neighborhood. 04\08\{1898} (Friday) To day is Fast{??} and is a legal holiday. I worked in the Mattatuck shop cleaning shafting{??} pullies. The war indications are more threatening to day. This evening I went with the Electric Rail pettion first to Mr. Leache's at the head of the Brass Mill {????} thence to Miles Pain's on East Mountain, thence to Willis Lannsburie's, thence to Mr. Bailey's, thence to Mr. Johnson's, thence to Gilbert Hotchkiss's where I passed a great fire on the way on the North side of the Polk Hill, thence to Mr. Frank Thompkin's thence to Mr. Freeter's{??}, thence to James Cass, then to Frank Cass', thence to Earnest Welton's on the Woodtick Road in Mill Plain where they had a baby sick with the croup, thence to F. B. Haggett's where Earnest Robinson signed it making the 306th name, then home and to bed. Clyde and Irving went to Wolcott and got Mr. Gardener's wagon. 04\09\{1898} (Saturday) The weather to day has been warm and fine and some of the farmer's are plowing. This evening Margaret and I went with the petition first to Mr. Norton's on the Woodtick Road. They were not at home, thence to Miss Welton's, thence to Mr. Durant's, thence to Widow Merritt Scott's thence, to Widow John Frisbie's, thence to Gayland Alcott's, thence to Mark Warner's, thence to Richard Potchen's, thence to George Pritchard's, thence to Mr. Mc Cauley's, the road was very dark, thence to Mr. Blewitt's, thence to Mr. Norton's and to Mr. Barner's who lives by the twin bridges, thence home and to bed. 04\10\{1898} (Sunday) Sabbath day, prepared the Chapel for service for Dexter Northrop who is sick, then saw Mr. Tucker on the way home and asked him if he would rent me a piece of ground on which to plant potatoes. He said he would and ageed to let me have a piece in the Sherman Bronson lot next to the Doolittle Road, and I understand it was to be free of charge. Went to the Chapel this afternoon and heard Mr. Waltros of Wolcott preach. He spoke to considerable length of our nation's trouble with Spain and of the suffering Cubans, but prayed that war might be averted. On my way home, I saw Mr. Tucker and he hitched his horse and carried me to Milan Northrop's at East Farms thence to George Hitchcock's and George Alexander's on the Meriden Road. Then we hurried home as it was thundering and lightening and we expected rain, but non came till evening when it rained quite hard at about 9 o'clock. I stayed with Mr. Tucker all night. 04\11\{1898} (Monday) To day the President of the United States (Mc Kinley) sent forth his message to Congress, stating that the blowing up of the Maine in Havanna harbour showed that Spain was no longer able to afford safety to the ships of other nations in her harbours and that Cuba must be freed and the war there must be stopped. 04\12\{1898} (Tuesday) The weather to day has been fine. Charles Hotchkiss began working all night on the nail machines at the Mattatuck shop, expect to run the machines to the first of June. To night after work, I went to my own shop and loaded a load of iron and had Father come up and I entertained him while the folks got a surprise supper ready for him, at which all his children and grandchildren (excepting Fred and his family) sat down, the occasion being Father's 68th byrthday {birthday}. Heard sister Iva say to day that she was engaged to be married to William Gillette. The Waterbury Wrench Co. made an assignment to day. W. H. Brooks was appointed receiver{??} under a bond of 20,000 dollars. 04\13\{1898} (Wednesday) To day the weather has been fine. Much talk of the war with Spain. Went to night and helped Hiram Able fix the side seats in the Chapel so they could get the new carpet under them. Received my week's wages of the Mattatuck Co. to day. Mary and some of the other women of the neighborhood cleaned the Chapel to day and got it ready for the new carpet. 04\14\{1898} (Thursday) Went to the Grange to night. B. F. Hoggett was elected Secretary in the place of Mrs. Wilson L. Pierpont, deceased. Rained lightly when we came home. 04\15\{1898} (Friday) It has rained most of the day. Mother is sixty four years old to day. Went to the Brass Mill and bought one 12 inch brass kettle for the Mattatuck Co. for 80 cents. 04\16\{1898} (Saturday) The weather to day has been fine. Drew a load of tools from my shop and put them in the cellar. The new carpet is put down in the Chapel. 04\17\{1898} (Sunday) The weather to day has been the best this year. Grass is turning green and the buds are ready to burst on plum and pear trees. Cowslips are in blossom. Did not go to the Chapel, but Mr. Mc Kinley preached. 04\18\{1898} (Sunday) {Monday} The weather to day has been fine. Every body is talking war. 04\19\{1898} (Tuesday) It has rained most of the time to day. Congress sent to day its final message to Spain and if the terms are not complied with, the Government are to send a fleet and an army to Cuba to stop the war there. A call is expected from the President for 80,00 volunteers. 04\20\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather cleared this forenoon and the evening was fine. We all went to the supper and entertainment at the Chapel, which was well attended and about $10.00 were realized{?????}. The entertainment program was pleasing to all. Miss Nellie Andrews, Solo. "The Wreck of the Battle Ship Maine", was received with a burst of applause. The duets by Miss Minnie Baker, Miss Margaret Hunter and the Misses Haywoods were warmly encored. The solos by Miss Sadie Haywood, Robert Streeter, Jessie Bamatyne{??}, Miss May Reeds, Mr. Arthur Beach, Miss Elsie Pollack and Lillie Proctor were very pleasing and warmly applauded as were the recitations by Miss Pollack, Miss Susie Price, and Sadie Haywood. 04\21\{1898} (Thursday) The weather to day has been cold but no storm. Mr. Gillette, a machinest at the Mattatuck shop has moved into one of the houses on Southmade Road to day next to William Dunworth. Walter Garrigus' wife has been sick since Sunday. To day brings the news that the Spanish Government has not waited to receive the Ultimatum sent by this government, but as soon as they heard that Minister Polo had received his passport from this country, considered it as equivalent to a formal declaration of war and have sent a powerful fleet of battle ships to sea. It is not known whether they expect to proceed to the West Indies or to operate against New york or some other Northern port. I expect to hear tomorrow that the call is issued for 80,000 volunteers. I think that the government could raise an army of 1,000,000 men easy. My wife has gone to the Grange and Mrs. Mulvanney{??} called, as she and I went to school together when we were young. We had a very pleasant time recalling events that happened at that time, when the Old War was raging. 04\22\{1898} (Friday) The weather to day has been fine. Great excitement prevails to day on account of the war. At 5.45. o'clock this morning the war fleet left Key West for the blockade of Havanna and the North coast of Cuba. The president has signed a bill calling for 100,000 volunteers to serve for one year. Connecticut's number to be sent is 1,286 men. This morning the Cruiser Nashville captured a Spanish lumber ladened vessel bound from Mississippi to Engalnd and took her as a prize to Key West. Manville Norton of Wolcott was buried to day in the Woodtick burying ground. He died on the 20th {???} of a cancer in the stomach. Had school meeting to night to consider buying a piece of land adjoining the back side of the school yard of Henry Hall. I did not attend. 04\23\{1898} (Saturday) This day is an eventful one. The Waterbury Evening American's heading was as follows, A Spanish Freighter Captured Our speedy cruiser New York saw her and raced off after her, sailed{??} {????} across her bows, stops her. The President Has Issued a Proclamation for 125,00 Volunteers To Serve For Two Years The owners of the Buena Ventura captured by the Nashville are very indignant and have entered a protest. In Madrid they call it an act of Piracy. Latest news from Havanna, how the people feel about the Yankke fleet in the {??????} - General Blanco active in rushing troops to the weak points on the coast of Cuba. Our fleet of Gunboats reached Havanna at 5 o'clock last evening, and at once there was great excitement in the city. General Blanco is rushing troops to Morrow Castle and to the Batteries of Santa Clara. Here In Waterbury 48 men enlisted in Company A and Company G making two full companies of 84 men each. They are expecting marching orders at any time and are ready at an hour's notice, the 48 enlisted last evening. 04\24\{1898} (Sunday) Weather to day is very rainy, went this morning to the Mattatuck factory and telephoned to the Rev. Mr. Davenport about preaching at the Chapel. He would come out but had a very bad throat and did not know whther he could preach or not. I asked him if we could not get some one else for to day and make it easier for him. He said that he thought that we could get Mr. Nichols, Baptist Minister of Simonsville and saw Mr. Nichols and he said that he would come. I in the afternoon went to the Chapel and found that all was well and Mr. Nichols was preaching, and a very fine service, the new carpet was on the floor and looked very nice. I stayed with Major Tucker last night. I would state here that the Rev. Asher Anderson of Meriden, Chaplain of the Second Reg., C.N. G.{??} preached a war sermon to Companies A and G last evening. The Church was filled to the extent that no more could get in. The service was held in the first Congregational Church and great enthusiasm prevailed. The soldier's war cry is to be Remember the Maine. 04\25\{1898} (Monday) The first shots of the War were fired Saturday night from Morow Castle at the torpedo boat, Foot{??}, and at the Battleship New York, but failed to hit anything but the Atlantic Ocean. 04\26\{1898} (Tuesday) The light-house tender Mangrove captured the Spanish Cruiser Panama{??} yesterday off Key West. 04\27\{1898} (Wednesday) To day the First Reg. C.N. G. received orders at 4.45 o'clock to prepare for war. (this is all that I know) 04\28\{1898} (Thursday) The weather to day has been cold and stormy, snow, sleet and rain. They had a Grange meeting to night and Edith Pierpont was elected Secretary. There was but 15 present. 04\29\{1898} (Friday) Although the weather to day has been fairly good, I am suffering great pain. Before dinner Mr. Tucker told me that we would go over to my shop and blue{??} some steel buttons. As an experiment we tried blueing{??} them in powdered charcoal. The process is as follows, the buttons are first hardened, then polished and then drawn to a temper of blue by putting them in a long cilender {cylinder} with brass chips usually which is over a charcoal fire while in motion till the right color comes when it is dumped on a riddle and the buttons riddled out of the charcoal. To day we tried the charcoal instead of the brass and as I was emptying them out, the charcoal dust exploded like powder and knocked me backwards, badly burning my hands and the side of my face. To day Mr. Judd gave me my insurance policy on my shop for $1,000 at a rate 1 1\2 cts.. 04\30\{1898} (Saturday) To day the weather has been fine. I not being able to work in the shop did nothing most of the forenoon but tend my burnt hands, but a little before noon I and Clyde and Irving began drawing out the wood across the road west of my house and we kept to work at it till near 4 o'clock when Mr. Tucker sent Paul Hesphelt after me to come to the shop, as a Mr. Simpkins of Thomaston was there to show me how to "blue buttons". I went down and staid till five o'clock when I came home and drove to Bucks Hill to see the inside of the Chapel there, to see if we could give the drill there next Wednesday evening. Thence home and I sent Clyde and Irving and Margaret and Ruth to the Chapel to practice the drill. 05\01\1898 (Sunday) To day the weather has been fine and clear. Mr. Warden called on me to see me about the drill at Buck's Hill. Mr. Tucker called and asked me to go to ride with him to see Ed Holmes who lives on the Southington Mountain. I went with Mr. Tucker and Horace{??} went horse back on his new horse. This was the first time that he ever rode horse back very far. After I got home Father, Frank and Rolland Jenner called, was glad to see them. 05\02\{1898} (Monday) Mort Chandler who lives in prsopect cut his throat open with a razor yesterday and although he severed the jugular vein, strange to say he still lives. Admiral Dewey{?} gave the Spanish fleet battle yesterday, before Manilla in the Phillipine Islands. He sunk several vessels and drove the rest back. 05\03\{1898} (Tuesday) The young people of Mill Plain went this evening to Bucks Hill and gave an entertainment in the Chapel. It consisted of readings, recitations, music and a drill and dramatic sketch entitled America. We had a fine time and returned home at 12 o'clock. 05\04\{1898} (Wednesday) Our Chapel had a supper and entertainment this evening which they say was fine. I did not go as my burnt hands were so painful that I thought I had better stay home and go to bed. 05\05\{1898} (Thursday) Weather was very unpleasant. Mary went to the Grange to night and Clyde and myself did up my hands which were very painful, so much so that it is hard for me to write. 05\06\{1898} (Friday) Old Mrs. Samuel Munson was buried from the mill Plain Chapel to day. I signed her will about one year ago. She was aged 81 years and 4 months. 05\07\{1898} (Saturday) The people are greatly stirred with enthusiasm over the official statements that have come to day that Commander Dewey has won a great vistory over the Spanish fleet at Manilla in the Phillipine Islands. He has sunk eleven vessels and killed 300 Spaniards and wounded 400 more. His own loss was 8 men wounded. 05\08\{1898} (Sunday) To day Clyde, Irving and myself drove over three mile hill to Break-|neck Hill thence around the north end of Luossapang{??} Lake in Middlebury and through the White Deer Rocks to Woodbury, thence to Southbury, and home the whole being about 35 miles. It rained some of the time and this afternoon it snowed the biggest flakes I ever saw. 05\09\{1898} (Monday) The weather to day has been fine. To night Clyde and Irving and I finished plowing for potatoes at the Sherman Bronson lot. 05\10\{1898} (Tuesday) Fair weather to day. We harrowed the potato lot to day. 05\11\{1898} (Wednesday) To day after work in the shop Clyde and I plowed the drills in the potato lot. 05\12\{1898} (Thursday) This morning we planted several rows of potatoes before I went to work. To day I fixed the doors and windows in the house where Mr. Gillette lives on the Southmaid Road. News was received to day that the torpedo boat Winslow was disabled at Cardenas, Cuba and five American seamen were killed and a number wounded. Worth Bagley, an ensign, was the first killed and there are the first killed in the war. 05\13\{1898} (Friday) The weather to day has been very fair. Two men came to day from the Eddy Electric Works of Windsor. Came to set the new {??????} running in the Mattatuck shop. I worked with them. 05\14\{1898} (Saturday) We finished putting in the {??????} to day and I am to see to the running of it. We started it up to night and it worked very well. 05\15\{1898} (Sunday) To day has been very rainy all but a little while this morning. A great many bicycle riders rode out of town. Mrs. Dickinson counted 86 in one lot going East on the Meriden Road on their wheel this morning before it rained, and most of them got caught by the rain and came walking back at night all wet and tired. Went to Mr. Tucker's this evening and he told me that he was going to get through at the Mattatuck Shop to morrow. It was hard news to hear for he organized the company and built up the business, and also gave me my situation there, but some disagreement between him and Mr. Wade and Mr. Judd brought it about. Also his health is very poor owing to the effects of the carbunckle he has had on his neck. 05\16\{1898} (Monday) Mr. Tucker came to the shop to day and told the people that he had got through. It seemed to me one of the saddest days I ever saw, as it made the work of the rest of us uncertain, besides all liked Mr. Tucker. Mr. Harry Judd informed me that they were going to build a seperate building for me to color the buttons in and that no one but he and I were to be allowed in there. Harry Judd is to take Mr. Tucker's place. I have also been instructed by Mr. George Judd to take charge of the {?????} and run it, no one else to touch it. This looks as if they had confidence in my ability. 05\17\{1898} (Tuesday) To day the weather has been rather cool. This morning Clyde and I plowed about two thirds of the East garden and tonight we finished it and plowed in the North garden. Clyde and I went to my shop this morning and Clyde loaded on to the wagon some rims and took them to James Harry's in Cheshire of whom I bought them of and returned them as I had no use for them. I worked to day putting a partition around the {??????}. It was easy work, but it seemed hard to me as I had hard headache and tooth ache. This evening Mr. Tucker called to see me and I walked home with him and sat and talked on the veranda. He told me that after the buttons were hardened they roll{??} them for two weeks in cool ahes and iron jack stones. 05\18\{1898} (Wednesday) The weather to day has been cool and clear. Got up at 5 o'clock and plowed in the North garden till 6.30 then went to work. To day the First Regiment Connecticut National Guard was mustered into the United States Service and is now awaiting orders from the government. To night we finished plowing and Clyde went down to his Grandma's to stay over night. 05\19\{1898} (Thursday) The weather to day has been fine till about 8 o'clock in the evening when we had a thunder shower which lasted the greater part of the night. Mr. Gladstone, the great English statesman, died at 5.30 o'clock this morning. 05\20\{1898} (Friday) To day has been hot. The thermometer regerstering {registering} 86 in the shade. 05\21\{1898} (Saturday) The weather to day has not been so warm as yesterday was. Worked in the shop all day and would not have been surprised if I had been discharged as they have so very little work for me but very fortunately I have not been for which I am very greatful. Paul Hesphelt told me his way of rooling{??} steel trouser buttons. It is as follows, first rool{??} them in coal ashes and water in an iron barrel for 2 weeks, next in a wooden barrel while wet with vienna line, then in wood 8 covered{??} barrel with cut leather (dry) then when sorted, rool in bax wood saw dust a little while, then I take them and blew them.{???} 05\22\{1898} (Sunday) To day the weather has been fine and cool. Went to the Chapel and heard the Reverend Mr. Davenport preach a sermon on patriotism. It was grand. He thinks that the war cry, "Remember the Maine", is used to much. He said that the bruised and battered hulk of the Main, lying so still in the harbor of Havanna will do more to bring liberation to the oppressed Cubans than anything else can. That God will remember the Maine. Went to see Mr. Tucker this evening, came home and to bed at 10 o'clock. 05\22{23}\{1898} (Monday) A California Regiment left to day at San Francisco on{??} the City of Pekin{Peking??} to reinforce Admiral Dewey in the Phillipine Islands. 05\24\{1898} (Tuesday) To day Companies K. F. and C. of the First Conn. Regiment left Cmap, Haven, at Niantic and are to proceed to Portland, Maine via Providence, Boston and Portsmouth, N.H. To morrow Co. B. I. and D. will leave for Gul and Plumb Islands. 05\25\{1898} (Wednesday) The President has called to day for 75,000 volunteers to serve two years or to the end of the war. Had a meeting at the Chapel to night and elected officers for the ensuing year. They were as follows, Morris Alcott for the Episcopal denomination, myself for the Congregational, Luther Bradley for the Methodist, and Robert Warden for the Baptist. Arthur Pierpont was elected Secretary, Hiram Able, Treasurer, J. Henry Garrigus, Sunday School Superintendent and Henry Cass, Librarian. 05\26\{1898} (Thursday) The Third Regiment, Connecticut National Guards were ordered into camp at Niantic{??} to day. Ralph Blakeslee barn and store house burned this forenoon, it is located on Meadow Street near the Nangatuck Raid Road Station. 05\27\{1898} (Friday) It has rained all day to day. We have had no clear weather in a week. 05\28\{1898} (Saturday) The weather is very damp to day. Paul Hesphelt's little boy Adolph had a very narrow escape from drowning to day. The circumstances are that his smallest children and my little boy Pierpont were playing near the upper dam of the Mattatuck Company's shop when Adolph said he would go and catch some foam. He went and sat down over the gate where the water flows into the ditch and was catching the foam on his bare foot when he slipped and fell into the water. He screamed loud but the other children were gathering flowers below the dam and did not hear him, but his oldest sister was passing from school on the road above the dam and knowing the voice hastened to where he was and found him, floating on his back round and round. She seized him and with the aid of some of the other children, rescued him. [[05\29\1898 (Sunday) no entry]] 05\30\1898 (Monday) This morning Clyde and Irving and my self took the team and starting at about 7o'clock drove to Meriden 12 miles, thence to Middletown 10 miles, stopping on the way near Black Pond and eating dinner in the woods. At Middletown we crossed the Connecticut River on the new iron bridge, paying 15 cts. toll, and went to Gildersleeves Landing, 4 miles, thence across the hills to Cobalt, 6 miles, thence to East hampton, 5 miles, where we stayed over night at the Village Central Hotel, kept by one Mr. Malcome. In the evening we went to the Congregational Church where they held Decoration Day exercises. About 20 war veterans marched in to the church after the rest had been seated. As they marched, a string band played "Marching Through Georgia", after which after which it played the "Star-|Spangled Banner" and several other national {????}, the veterans standing during the playing. The most interesting part of the service was the reading of a diary kept {by} Mr. Horatio Chapman during the war. He was a native of East Haddam. He is now Chaplain of the East Hampton Post G. A. R. and is a fine reader, and read the part taken by himself from Gettysburg to Atlanta. I hope that I can hear the rest sometime. Mrs. Malcome gave us a room with two beds in it. Clyde and Irving taking one and I the other. In the morning we left at about half past six for Moodus{???} after paying $1.25, we stopped when about half way there in a piece of woods and ate our breakfast, which we carried with us. We drove right past Moodus without seeing it. It is situated in a valley which we went parallel of on a hill and looking across seeing no buildings, did not notice it. After we got a mile past a man told us of it and we turned and drove back one mile. They were having Decoration Day exercises and the parade was forming. There were about thirty veterans at the head of the line, preceeded by a part of the reknowned Moodus Drum Corps, after which came about 150 school children carrying flowers. They marched through the principle streets of the village and then out to a cemetery on a high hill near a Methodist Church where the Rev. Mr. Marshel delivered an address, and the children decorated the graves of deceased soldiers. I shook hands with many of the members of the Moodus Drum Corps who I have met in nearly every City in Connecticut during the past 20 years of my life as a drummer. Mr. George Buell, who is a fine fifer, invited us to Continental Hall to dinner which was fine and from there to his tin shop and hardware store, and then home to his house where we stayed till nearly three o'clock. He told us all about the Moodus noises and described them as sounding like a person rolling a barrell of loose{??} iron over an uneven floor and banging it against the side of the room. He is fifty years old and siad that he had heard them many times. One time the people were in church and thought that a heavy team was running away and that the hub of the wagon scraped against the side of the church and banged against the corner board and tore it off. I would say that it is 8 miles from East Hampton to Moodus. On leaving Moodus we drove to Godspeeds Landing, 4 miles. (Irving and I, Clyde riding his wheel most of the entire trip) where we crossed the rover on a steam ferry, thence we drove to Shaylerville, thence to Haddam thence Higgamum, 10 miles from the landing thence to Durham 10 miles passing through 4 miles of woods without seeing a building, thence to Wallingford, 9 miles, thence to Cheshire 6 miles, thence home, 8 miles where arrived at 2 o'clock in the morning. Mr. Lewis Beckwith moved into his new house on the Southmaid Road yesterday. 05\31\{1898} (Tuesday) To day has been a long one for me as I have a tired feeling and have had to work hard. 06\01\1898 (Wednesday) The weather to day has been nice. I have been working out of doors all day moving a coal shed to make room for a building for me to color buttons in. 06\02\1898 (Thursday) To night Mary went to the Grange and I went to bed at about half past eight. Mr. Warden called and wished me to have some tickets printed for the Strawberry Festival and entertainment to be given in the Chapel on June 23. 06\03\{1898} (Friday) Planted onions in the garden this morning and plowed out for corn in the Sherman Bronson lot this evening. 06\04\{1898} (Saturday) Planted corn in the Sherman Bronson lot to day. I call it the Bronson lot because Sherman Bronson owned it previous to 1850 and covered it with the refuse bone from his bone button factory and cleared the brush and stones from it. Sherman Bronson lived where Major Tucker now lives and his factory stood where the tannery building now stands. He failed and Scoville Mfg. Co. took all his real estate and he went to California but came back again and died on South Elm St. about 8 years ago. 06\05\1898 (Sunday) The weather to day has been fine and a great number of bicycle riders were out. Went to the Chapel this afternoon and heard Mr. Buckley preach. Did not get there until the service was half over. After service we, the Chapel Committee, elected Morris Alcott Chairman. 06\06\{1898} (Monday) To day nothing worthy of note happened except that Mr. Harry Judd who is superintendent of the Mattatuck Mfg. Co. told me that we would go over to my shop and color buttons. We went over and I built a fire and told him that I was ready to go to work. He said nothing and I told him that I supposed he understood that if I colored the buttons at all, I should do them alone, and as I needed no one to help me and no one to show me, I should do them alone. he went away and I went to work. 06\07\{1898} (Tuesday) This day I got up at 5 o'clock and Irving and I cleaned the privy out after which I ate my breakfast and went to the shop, about 8 o'clock I took a box of buttons over to my shop and worked till quarter past eleven coloring them, after which I brought them back on a wheelbarrow and Mr. Judd told me to {do} some job which took me till noon. The weather was very hot and I was near melted. Pierpont brought my dinner and we ate it together, after which Mr. Judd told me to go up to the tannery building and get some old lumber with which to build on an addition to the coal sheds. I got Joe Huey and we went to my house and got my horse and wagon and went to the tannery, carrying Margaret, Ruth and Pierpont up as we went. Pierpont went to play with Roy Munson and Margaret and Ruth to school. I drove down the East side of the River to the rear door of the {????} and loaded on the lumber that was there, then drove up and across the iron bridge and down the West side of the river to the front door when Mr. Judd came after me to go down to the shop and show a lot of carpenters about putting up the shop for blueing buttons. We set the corners and squared the frame, the sun being intensely hot, after which, I went into the shop and worked the remainder of the day putting up string pieces on which to hang a counter shaft, which is to run an energy grinder. Came home at half past five o'clock and ate my supper after which I plowed a piece of ground on which to plant potatoes for Mr. Mulvaney, after which I came home and went to bed at 9 o'clock with a pain in my head caused by the intense heat. 06\08\{1898} (Wednesday) This morning I did not get up till 6 o'clock, did a little work on the garden fence, after which I ate my breakfast and went to the shop, worked till noon putting up the counter shaft and belts and setting an energy grinder, and in the afternoon worked making boxes in which to carry work. Came home at 5 o'clock and ate my supper and then plowed drills for Mr. Mulvaney to plant potatoes in, after which I came home and planted onions till Mr. Tucker came. I talked with him a while and went to his house to look at some business cards he had received, stayed till half past 9 o'clock when I came home and to bed. Received my last week's pay to day of $10.00. 06\09\{1898} (Thursday) This morning I got up at 5 o'clock and planted onions after which we worked on the garden fence till 6.30 when I ate my breakfast and went to the shop. Worked till about 11 o'clock making boxes after which I went to my home and got my saws and after filing them went to building an addition on to the coal shed. The Waterbury Wrench Co. finished working to day and are selling out, came home and finished the garden fence, and worked till I could not see. 06\10\1898 (Friday) Got up at 5.30 o'clock this morning, called Clyde and Irving and we made a path over to the back lots of Miss Mary Doolittle's which she has given me the use of if I will cut the brush on them by next fall. After we had the path made we took the horse over and left him there all day. Went to work at quarter to seven and worked all day building an addition on to the coal shed at the Mattatuck Drum Shop. Miss Hine sent me a recipt for $3.00 for money I have paid on George's account. Mr. Ealcott moved to day into the second house on the Mattatuck row. 06\11\{1898} (Saturday) Got up this morning at 5 o'clock and got some ground ready to plant late peas and cucumbers, went to the shop, worked this forenoon on coal shed and this afternoon till 4 o'clock when Paul Hesphelt and I took the governer{??} away from the waterwheel so that he, Paul, could pack the gate stem tomorrow. After work, Clyde and Irving came with the big wagon and we went to my shop and got a load of stuff and a grindstone. 06\12\1898 (Sunday) Got up this morning at half past six and set out tomato plants and fenced about the garden till breakfast time, after which we went over to the pasture lot and dug out a new spring near the path. Near noon Frank called and brought some tomato plants and we sat them out. The children, except Pierpont and Raymond went to Sunday School this after noon and Mary went to the Chapel service. I stayed at home and took a bath. Mr. Garrigus called and asked if I could not get Mr. Davenport to preach to the children next Sunday as it is Children's Sunday. After supper Mary and I went and saw Mr. Luther Bradley and he says he is willing to exchnage Sundays with me so that they can have Mr. Davenport next Sunday if we can get him. Mr. Perrings preached at the Chapel to day. 06\13\{1898} (Monday) The weather has been very hot all day. There has been a land battle between the U.S. Troops and the Spaniards on Cuba. This is the first battle of the war, it was fought and there were four of our soldiers killed. 06\14\{1898} (Tuesday) Fourteen thousand troops left Tampa, Florida at daylight to day for Cuba. 06\15\{1898} (Wednesday) Got up this morning at four o'clock and Clyde, Irving and I went to the Sherman Bronson lot and cultivated out our potatoes and hoed four rows, after which I went to the shop and {am} at work finishing a partition that I built yesterday for a new room to put a nail machine in. Then went over to my shop and colored buttons till noon. After dinner, colored buttons till three o'clock then mad {made??} a door in the new room, then helped get in the new machine, then put the lock on door which took till six o'clock, came home and had supper of strawberries and bread and butter, then to hoeing potatoes, then went to Thomas Heaton's after a bill of $8.00 he owes me but did not get it. Mr. Joseph Munger called on me to day about the interest money I owe him on my house. Got my week's pay to day $12.00 at the Mattatuck Shop. To bed at 9 o'clock. 06\16\{1898} (Thursday) This morning was very cold, had a little frost. School meeting was held in the East Farms district last evening and Milan Northrop was elected {????????}, Wilson L. Pierpont, Clerk, and Luther Bradley, Treasurer. Mr. Freeter's steam laundry on East Mountain burned this morning at about eight o'clock. Hiram Able's people saw it very plain from their house. Had my house reinsured for $2,000.00 in the Orient Company of Hartford, John G. Jones, agent for three years, expires June 20, 1901. 06\17\{1898} (Friday) Very hot and dry to day. Old Mrs. Johnson is very sick, fell off from a chair and got hurt, she is now in her 93rd year. 06\18\{1898} (Saturday) Very dry and hot. It is published to day that a fleet of 20 ships have saied from Cadez, Spain and are headed for the New England coast. The Third Conn. Regiment have been ordered to the National Camp at Ninatic to be mustered into the Government service. The first of next week, two companies of the Fourth Regiment, the Danbury and Stamford companies are ordered to Fort Knox at Bucksport, Maine to fill up the First Reg. to 12 companies. 06\19\{1898} (Sunday) The first rain fell to day in the form of a shower that has fallen in a long time. I have stayed home all day till evening when I went to Hiram Able's then to John French's and to Mr. Tucker's. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel because it was Children's Day. Mr. Frank Cass is very sick with dropsy, not expected to live. He worked for me about three years as a blacksmith's helper. 06\20\{1898} (Monday) Got up early this morning and worked in the garden, till shop time. Worked at the shop putting in a blow pipe from the boiler shop to the button hardening shop. Bertha French got through working Saturday. The girls that work at the Mattatuck shop now are Nellie Cass, Mrs. Marrow, Mary Lyman, and Clara French. The men are Harry Judd, Foreman, Mr. Ealcott, George Blanchard, Joe Huey, Mr. Holden, Charles Hotchkiss, Mr. Leach, Frank DeBissop, Paul Hesphelt and myself and a watchman. 06\21\1898 (Tuesday) I did not get up this morning until quarter of six, ate my breakfast of radishes, bread and butter and canned salmon and went to the shop, worked cutting out stones in the pipe trench to the button coloring shop, and put the stone underpriming under the button coloring shop, and laid a brick floor in a part of it. PIerpont brought my dinner of fired meat and potatoes and bread and butter, came home at 5.30 o'clock and put a sole on one shoe, and Irving, Margaret, Ruth and myself pulled weeds in the onions. Mr. Warden called to see me about the entertainment for the Strawberry Festival to be given at the Chapel next Thursday evening. Mr. Lines and his orchestra came out to the Chapel this evening to rehearse but could not as the piano was pitched to low. 06\22\1898 (Wednesday) Mr. Francis D. Cass died this forenoon of the dropsy. I received my week's pay of the Mattatuck Mfg. Co., $12.50. 06\23\1898 (Thursday) Warm and dry, people are beginning haying. Yesterday a freight train of 50 cars parted East of the Stratford draw bridge and as the front section was crossing the bridge, the back part ran into it and piled up three cars high, at the same time striking the bridge and throwing it eighteen inches out of plumb, and making it unsafe for travel as no trains have passed over it since. It is expected that it will take several days to repair it. This cuts off all rail road traffic and is a great cause for inconvenience. This noon George Cass called at the shop to see if I would be pall bearer at his Father's funeral. Had a grand strawberry festival at the Chapel to night. The building was crowded full and the supper was fine. The entertainment program was fine and included recitations by Miss Deitrish, duets by Mrs. Lines and Orsgood, solos by Mrs. Lines and Mr. Alden and Mr. Orsgood and several selections by Jack Lines, Orchestra, which could not be beaten. Mr. Tucker sent me word that he wants to see me about the school meeting, has heard that Mark Warner has fired Bessie Tyler of Bucks Hill to teach next year. Paid Mr. Hine 2.00 for which she sent me a receipt. 06\24\{1898} (Friday) To day has been hot and dry. Mr. Francis D. Cass was buried to day, at half past two this afternoon the Rev. Dr. Davenport officiated. The pall bearers were Thomas Melbourn, Wilson L. Pierpont, Robert Warden, Thomas Mills, George Alexander and myself. He was buried at the Pine Grove Cemetery. Yesterday being the last day of school, they had a school picnic to day which was held in th grove back of the school house. After the funeral we drove up there. They had a large attendence. Went to Union City to see an English man who used to live on East Main St. to see if I could get the recipt for making lacquer cover steel pens, buttons etc. Could not find him but found one Mr. Pratt who was in business with him and who claims to have lost a lot of money by his management, who told me how the lacquer was made, as follows, dissolve gum sheel-lack in alchohol and add naptha, apply in a dipper's basket and when the pens are well shook off, turn out into a riddle on a warm stove and shake it till dry. Drove home by way of Platts Mills. We cleared at the Strawberry Festival at the Chapel last evening about $50.00. 06\25\{1898} (Saturday) To day is very hot and dry. Everything is drying up. 06\26\{1898} (Sunday) Got up at half past five and watered plants in the garden, then went up to Mr. Tucker's and we went and looked at the old tannery building with a view to see what kind of a place it would be to make steel buttons in, then came home and had breakfast at ten o;clock of baked beans, after which, Howard Neil called to get his Indian relics which I had. Then Father called and we drove to John Wakelee's to see him about cutting his hay, came home and found Agnes Able here resting after walking from Mr. Stephen Harrison's on Walnut street where she works. Went to the Chapel and heard Mr. Bassett preach. Came home and had supper of strawberry shortcake. 06\27\{1898} (Monday) News has reached us of a battle which was fought near Santiago de Cuba at a place called Lo Luasina last Friday between 1000 troopers and 2000 troopers Spanish soldiers and troops fought on foot and lost 17 men killed, 29 wounded and 7 missing. 06\28\{1898} (Tuesday) Dry and dusty. 06\29\{1898} (Wednesday) Had school meeting last night and mark L. Warner was elected Committe, B. F. Hoggett, clerk and Warren Hitchcock, treasurer. It was voed to lay a tax of .05 mills on the dollar on list of 1897. The Committee assisted by Mark Pond were to lay tax. 06\30\{1898} (Thursday) Parisgreened{??} my potatoes this evening. Went to the Grange to night. The weather very hot and dry. 07\01\1898 (Friday) Weather dry and hot. I received a tax bill to day for military tax due May 1, 1897 from Constable Ronnette with a copy of the law that unless it was paid by the 6{???????} he should {????} on my body and so forth and unless paid. I was to be delivered to the keeper of the county jail, there to remain until I had worked out said tax, together with costs and other expenses, also a letter from Constable Ronnette saying that if paid before the sixth, that there would be no further costs than the tax of $2.00 and interest and writ which was $2.00 making $4.00 in all. News as published to day that Gen. Shafter{???} has his army of 14,000 men including 5,000 Cubans before Santiago and intends to attack the town to day. Aunt Amanda Bronson died in Bridgeport yesterday, aged 93 years. She is sister to my wife's mother. 07\02\1898 (Saturday) Got up this morning at half past five and worked hoeing in the garden till 6.30. Ate breakfast of boiled hard clams and went to the shop. Worked first whitewashing the forge in the button blueing shop, also the windows. Next made a rack in the main shop for those who ride wheels to keep bicycles in. Next made some long shallow boxes, then stopped for 1/2 hour at noon and ate dinner of corned beef and biscuit, and worked most of the afternoon making a cubbard{?} in the button blueing shop. Came home and had supper of boiled beans, after which I hitched up the horse and Clyde and I went to town. Went first to the Selectmen's office in the City Hall to see about the military tax but they were away. Saw the janitor James Loughland and asked him who the past examining surgeon is. He said that it was Dr. Graves and that he was over to the armory where they are enlisting recruits for the Conn. National Guards. Went thither and saw Postmaster Fitzpatrick and Captain Geddes and they told me that Dr. Graves was at his office in the Daniels Block on North Main Street. Went thither and saw him, but he could do nothing for me as the law provided that he could examine only in the month of January. From thence, I went to see Constable Ronnette and showed him his bill and letter and told him that I was exempt of military tax on account of disability having a lame foot and two ruptures. He, seeing my cane, believed me and tore up the bill and letter, which ended the matter. I thanked him and told him if I could help him out some time to let me know, at which he seemed very much pleased, for I secured a number of votes for him at his last election. Went from thence to Charlie Russell's store where Clyde bought .50 cts worth of fire works for the children to help celebrate the Fourth of July. Came home and to bed at 10.30. There was a great battle fought before Santiago yesterday in which it is reported that we lost 1000 men and troops now occupy a position within two miles of the city. 07\03\{1898} (Sunday) This has I think been the hottest day I ever saw. My thermometer has stood at 102 in the shade most of the afternoon. The gardens are all wilting, the leaves on the trees have withered since morning and a vapor can be seen arising from the watercarses{??}. There has been a stiff breeze blowing from the South West some of the time, but it felt hot as if coming from the burning sands of a desert. On the Fourth of July in 1882 I drummed in the Mattatuck Drum Corps at the dedication of the Soldiers Monument in Birmingham. That day the thermometer stood 106 in the shade in Shelton where we marched, but it was only 98 here so to day must be the hottest. Went to the Chapel this afternoon. Mr. Perry, Baptist, preached. After supper went to Mother Pierpont's at East Farms. 07\04\1898 (Monday) To day is the one hundred and twenty second anniversary of our nation's independence, and the words which John Adams spoke in 1776 are fulfilled when on July 2nd he said, "We will make this an immortal, a glorious day when we are in our graves, our children will honor it. They will celebrate it with thanksgivings, with festivities, with bonfires and with illumination. On its annual return, they will shed tears not of subjection and slavery, not of agony and distress, but of gratitude, of exultation and of joy." While the people of to day have nearly forgotten in a measure the burdens and distress which burdened the people in 1776, Fourth of July is very appropriately observed. For myself I worked this forenoon (a thing I never did before) lining up the main shafts in the Mattatuck Shop. In the afternoon, Paul Hesphelt and his boys and I and my boys went to Scott's Pond fishing and as the water was low, we caught over 60 fish. Mr. Gilbert Duryee died yesterday. There has been alarms of fire in town to day. This evening we went up on the large rock on red oak hill back of the Doolittle place and watched the fireworks which were sent up in every direction. There was lots of thunder and lightening which served to make the occasion the more sublime and it rained a few drops. 07\05\{1898} (Tuesday) This day has been one that I shall long remember. At 10 o'clock, as I had occasion to leave the shop, I was surprised to hear most of the whistles and gongs blowing, and the ringing of bells and firing of cannon. This told the people of the victory of Admiral Sampson over the Spanish Admiral Cervia near Santiago. I immediately sent Clyde to notify the members of the Mattatuck Drum Corps that there would be a parade in the evening and that we would turn out. I stopped work at noon and came home and got my five drums in shape and then went to City Hall and reported to Mayor Spenser that we would turn out, from thence to see George Edwards thence to see Simon Smith on the Middlebury Road and then home and loaded seven snare drums and two bass into my two seated wagon and took them to Gardener Hall's store on Cherry Street where we formed, {????} for fifers, Luke Henderson, Charles Cass, Simon Smith and George Edwards. Bass drummers, Henry Buckingham and Elsie Bronson. Snare drummers, Mr. Miles Booth, Hubert Downs, Arthur Harrison (of Wolcott), George Atkinson, Levi Grilley and myself. We marched to City Hall and reported for duty and were assigned to head Randolph & Claw's Company, nearly all of the military and civil organizations in the city turned out. The factory whistles blew and there was a continual display of fireworks while a cannon on the top of Abrigador{??} Hill kept up a constant firing. The center was thronged with people. 07\06\{1898} (Wednesday) This morning as I was about to get up at about quarter to five, as I arose and turned in bed, my hernia slipped out. It became rigid and I could not get it back again. After trying everything that I could think of, we called Clyde and sent him after Mr. Roberts who lives no South Main Street and makes a specialty of caring for ruptures. He came a little after seven o'clock and tried to force it in which pained me very much, after which he took a battle of liquid from his satchel and poured a little on and then with a slight pressure it went back. The liquid relaxed the muscles and let it slip back. He staid and ate breakfast with me, and I did not go to work till noon. Mr. Durce was buried this afternoon in the Pine Grove Cemetery. He was aged 76 years. Cousin Jennie Phillips called this evening and told me that she was not going to teach at Mill Plain. 7/07/{1898} (Thursday) To day is cool and very dry. This week makes the sixth since we have had any rain except a slight shower. Mr. Anderson is building a house on the Southmaid Road near Lewy Beckwith's. I worked to day blueing buttons in the new shop. Went to the Grange tonight. The Hawaiian Islands were annexed to the United States yesterday. 07\08\{1898} (Friday) The weather to day has been hot and dry. Worked this forenoon blueing buttons. Lieutenant Hobson and the men under his command who sunk the Merrimack at the entrance of Santiago harbor were exchanged yesterday. 07\09\{1898} (Saturday) We had a thunder shower this morning that did a lot of good, but it only rained a little, and the evening is quite cool. 07\10\1898 (Sunday) Got up this morning at 7.30 and pulled weeds in the garden till 9 o'clock when we went into the house and as Mary had not got breakfast ready, we put a pan of baked beans on the table and ate what we wanted and cut a watermelon. After breakfast, we finished pulling the weeds from the rows that we were working on before breakfast, after which we got a joiners bench into the cellar and repaired a bucksaw frame, then lay down for a nap but could not sleep as one fly would fly into my ear then into my nose and pestered me other wise so that I was obliged to get up and fight him, but as I could not catch him I was tired of trying to sleep and got ready and went to the Chapel and heard Mr. Rafter preach a good sermon. Mr. Rafter is of the Waterville Church. After service, Major Tucker called me into his place where I stayed for some time and then went to Hiram Able's and left the $2.33 that was collected at the Chapel. Mr. Able has had his house painted. Came home at six and had supper of baked beans and salmon and lettuce salad, after which I got out my old fife books and showed them to the boys who are learning to fife. Went to see Mr. Tucker at 8 o'clock and stayed till 11. Came home round the road{??} and went to bed at midnight. 07\11\{1898} (Monday) Nothing worthy of record has happened to day tht I know of except that there was a slight frost this morning and Frank De Bissop got through at the Mattatuck shop Saturday night. 07\12\1898 (Tuesday) Mowed this morning from 5 to 6.30 and then went to work in the shop. This afternoon a constable from New Haven, one Mr. Kirk, came to the shop and read a warrAnt for Mr. Mc Elliott, Mr. Lang and myself to appear before the Judge of the Court of Common PLeas at New Haven tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock as we have been drawn as jurymen. This evening Mary and I went to see Mr. Harry Garrigus as I wished to find out about the duties of a juror. Saw Mr. Tucker on the road. He told me that he did not think that the Mattatuck Co. could live throughout the summer as the price of furniture nails has been put down from 55 per cent discount to 75 per cent. We stoped {stopped} at Walter Garrigus' and carried his mother home and brought her back again when we came home. 07\13\{1898} (Wednesday) Arose this morning at five o'clock. It was raining quite hard. Ate my breakfast and as I was obliged to go to New Haven to serve on the jury and had not money enough to go with, drove to the Brass Mill and borrowed ten dollars of father. Then I took the trolley car at the end of the Plank Road and paid them five cents for a ride to the Nangatuck Rail Road depot, where I paid .80 cents and bought a ticket to New Haven, the train leaving at 8.26. Met on the train Mr. Mc Eliott whom I did not know, but who used to be third selectman. At New Haven we took the trolley car to the cart house, it raining very hard, fare 5 cents. Arrived there at quarter to ten. Mr. Edgar Wallace of Prospect was there with whom I was acquainted and he told me many things in connection with the duties of a juryman. The court was called at about 10.30 and twenty one jurymen responded, three being absent, two on account of sickness and one being away, and Judge Hubbard of Middletown dismissed us to report again tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. I then went to the office of the county commisioners to see a directory as I wanted to go to the Historical Society's rooms, found that they were located at 144 Grove Street. I went there, it was raining very hard, and saw their fine collection of relics and ancient documents, fire arms etc. but did not have much time as it closed at 12 o'clock. From there I walked to the depot in the rain and found that my train would not leave till two thirty nine so I took a walk up to the old Derby Rail Road station. It is now used as a hardware store house. I then went to the car shops, bought on the way five cents worth of peanuts, looked about there a little while and then went to the depot and waited for my train. Bought a ticket to Nangatuck for 65 cents and there took the trolley car to Silver Street, Waterbury to father's where I found Mary who had been there making over a pair of pants which Mr. Tucker gave me. Then went to the Mattatuck shop and got my pay, 9 dollarsm and came home, had supper of fired onions and canned{??} corn after which I went to Mr. Tucker's, came home and to bed at 10 o'clock. Sent my horse to Miles Paynes to day and had him shod. He charged 1.25. And also one buggy wheel. 07\14\{1898} (Thursday) Got up this morning at five o'clock, had breakfast of pancakes and started for West Cheshire depot at quarter past six o'clock. Clyde went with me to bring the team back and we took Raymond too. It was a fine morning. At West Cheshire, I took the 8.26 train for New Haven and got to the County Courthouse at a little after nine. We, the jury men, were called before the judge, nineteen of us, and seven were challenged off, the other twelve were ordered to their seats, and a case of Mr. and Mrs. John Mc Carthy against William Nott, all of Ansonia, was called. The case was two counts against said Nott, one for selling liquor to a habitual drunkard and for selling to a husband after being forbidden not to by the wife. After we had heard all the evidence, and the lwayers arguments, we received our charge from Judge Hubbard and were then ordered to retire to our room. It was then 12.30 and a recess was declared till two o'clock. We went and got dinner at a restaurant, paid 25 cts. for it, after which we took a short walk and returned to the Courthouse at quarter before two. At 2 o'clock we were called to our seats and the roll called after which we retired to our room. The first ballot was 10 guilty and 2 not guilty. The second, all guilty. Edgar Wallace was appointed foreman and we were admitted to our seats in the court room where we were ordered to stand while the clerk read the charge to us and asked if we found him guilty or not where upon the foreman answered guilty. We were then immediately dismissed to report again tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. I went into the criminal side of the Superior Court where a colored man was being tried for assualt with intent to kill a white man, and staid there till a little after three when I went to the depot and took the train for Cheshire at four, paying twenty cents. Clyde and Margaret were at Cheshire to meet me and we drove home where we arrived a little before six. Went to the Grange in the evening but did not stay, only till recess when I came home. Santiago de Cuba was captured yesterday. 07\15\{1898} (Friday) Got up this morning at 5 o'clock and sent Clyde up to Mr. Tucker's and got his Concord buggy and then we ate breakfast as soon as we could, and Irving, Clyde and myself started for New Haven, leaving at six o'clock. We went byway of the Notch-|in-| the-|rock, followed the road that runs at the foot of the West Mountain in Cheshire. Came on to the main New Haven road at Mount Carmel where, fearing that I might be late, took the trolley cars, after waiting a long while, and reached the court house at five minutes to ten. Meanwhile, Clyde and Irving had driven to the Tantene{??} livery stable and put the horse out and came to the Courthouse a little while after I got there. Soon after ten we, the jury, were called into the courtroom and after being impaneled, six of the 18 present being excused, the case of the State against Paul Beetz of Grand Avenue, New Haven, for selling spiritous and intoxicating liquors on Sunday and also keeping a place open Sunday for the purpose of selling the same, was called. Gunn of Milford was attorney for the State and Goodheart for the defence, he is of New Haven. Both were expert lawyers and made good pleas. The jury was sent out at a little after three o'clock and after being out over {???}, returned and reported that we could not agree. We were sent out again, but after being out over half an hour were recalled and the Court adjourned till a week from next Tuesday at 10 o'clock. The nearest that the jury came to agreeing, 4 ballots for guilty and 8 not guilty. This was a case where I believe that the accused was guilty but the evidence given (from which we had to judge) was not sufficent to make it clear that he was guilty, therefore my vote was not guilty. We got out of Court a little after five and took the trolley cars to Lighthouse Point to see the new battery which hs been erected there. We paid ten cents a piece car fare. The ride was fine, the view of the water grand. There were many girls in bathing which I took much pleasure in watching. The Battery consists of two old cast iron smooth bare ten inch guns, mounted on friction carriage back of a defense made of rail road ties and two thicknesses of rail road iron laid on top length ways of thw works. It did not look very substantial. We came back to New Haven Center which we reached at 6.50 and got the horse, paying .50 cts. for its keep and feed, and started home. Came through Beteny{??} and Prospect, reached home at 12 o'clock. 07\16\{1898} (Saturday) Went to work to day in the Mattatuck Shop, found that Mrs. Marrow, Clara French and Mary Lyman had been sent home on account of not having work and all of the rest of the hands are very uneasy and fearful lest they shall be sent home. Found a letter there from Dr. G. Porter notifying me to return to him a mowing machine that I borrowed of him three or four years ago. The machine in question I borrowed and broke. Some time after I went to Miss Bradley, his house keeper and agent{??}, he being in London at the time, to get the address of the parties so I could send and get a casting to repair it with. She wished me to keep the machine in payment for service I had rendered in protecting the trees and bank in front of Mr. Porter's residence against being {????????} by the Trolley Company which it was expected was coming at that time. I considered it very poor pay as the machine was almost worthless and I spent a great deal of time in looking the matter up enough, had I received fair pay to have bought several new mowing machines. This evening Clyde and I drove to Mr. Townsend's at Breakneck in Middlebury to find from Mr. Townsend where Rachambeam{??} and his army encamped in 1781 on its march to {????} Washington on{??} the Hudson. I had a very nice visit, reached home at about 10 o'clock. 07\17\{1898} (Sunday) Got up this morning, had breakfast of roast clams and baked beans, after which Pierpont and myself drove to Southington to see Mr. Bennett Upson to get information regarding the visit of General Lafayette at his grandfather's house in Revolutionary times and also to Luman{?} Lewis who is 94 years old to get information regarding the passage of the French army through here in 1781 and 1782. He told me a great deal about it which people had told him who saw the. Came home and had dinner at noon and towards evening went up on East Mountain to see Mrs. Gilbert Hotchkiss about the Richardsons who kept a great many American soldiers over night at Breakneck in the Revolution. In the evening went to see Mr. Tucker. The Rev. Mr. Hanna preached at the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon. 07\18\1898 (Monday) Worked to day most of the time building a watercloset at the Mattatuck shop. Walter Garrigus' wife gave birth to a little girl tonight. 07\19\{1898} (Tuesday) To day has been very warm. Worked at the Mattatuck shop. This evening went to see the Rev. Dr. Davenport at Major Tucker's to give him information about the French army which passed through here under Count Rachambeam in 1781. Dr. Davenport is to write a paper to be read before the Order of Patriots and Founders in Milford (Woodmont) a week from next Saturday. 07\20\{1898} (Wednesday) This day has been a hot one. Mr. Tucker called this evening and told that he and Dr. Davenport are going to take a drive to Otis Mass{??} the last of this week. 07\21\{1898} (Thursday) To day has been very warm. George Benham's wife's mother Mrs. Seinor died this evening at his home in East Farms of old age. She was aged 77 years. Mary went ot the Grange to night. I stayed home and set a tire on my buggy wheel and then went to see Father and Mother. Stayed till ten o'clock then home and to bed. 07\22\{1898} (Friday) Got up this morning before five o'clock and mowed in the swamp till breakfast. Went to work at the Mattatuck Shop and helped Paul Helspelt get a revolving dryer running, then Mr. Judd sent us up to the old tannery building to get the waterwheel running, I found that the bulkhead had settled towards the wheel and that two of the braces had worked loose and came out and had caught in the partition and tore off some of the boards and these had run into the cogs{??} and this had moved the wheel towards the bulkhead an inch{??} so that it rubbed so hard that it could not run. We moved the bulkhead back and braced it and then moved the wheel to line, which was no small job, it being a breast wheel 16 ft. in diamter and 16 ft. long. Came home at 5.30. Mary and the smaller children went to Mr. Garrigus this afternoon and picked a lot of hillberries and Clyde and Irving rode to Campounce{??} this afternoon and saw the man dive from a height of 80 ft. into the lake. 07\23\{1898} Worked all day in the waterwheel at the tannery building. 07\24\1898 (Sunday) Got up this morning very early, had breakfast at 9.30. Mr. Robert Hotchkiss came and borrowed my buggy for his wife and daughter, Flora, to go to Prospect with. Cousin Charles Phillips came for me to go down to Father's and fix his wife's bicycle which I did. This evening George Edwards and his wife and son Elton called. They had a clambake out{??} to Morris Reid's to day. The Rev. Mr. Waters preached at the Chapel this afternoon. 07\25\{1898} (Monday) Went to work this { } at the Mattatuck shop and from thence to the Rutter tannery and to work in the waterwheel till noon then back again to the Mattatcuk shop. Mr. Morris Alcott called and told me that he would get the Rev. Mr. Buckley to preach at the Chapel next Sunday. 07\26\{1898} (Tuesday) To day Irving carried me to the Nangatuck Rail Road depot where I took the 8.12 train to New Haven and went to the Court House where I arrived in good time. A case was called against a man who lives on Putnam Street for selling liquor on Sunday and without a license. Gunn of Milfrod was for the State and C. S. Hamilton of New Haven for the defense. The case was not finished at one o'clock and court adjourned till tomorrow to allow its members to attend the funeral of a former clerk who had died. I went and had dinner and then went to West Haven and staid a while, came back and went out an old long wharf and staid and talked with an old sailor till train time. Took the 5.57 train on the Northampton Road home. Expense - RR fare down .80 cts, dinner 25 cts, postage stamps 10 cts, trolley fare to West Haven 10 cts, peanuts .05 cts, Trolley fare to New Haven 10 cts, RR fare to Cheshire .40 cts. 07\27\{1898} (Wednesday) Went to New Haven via Canal Rail Road. Mr. Bradley of Woodbridge was sick abed and as he is one of the jurors on the case which was being tried yesterday, that case could not be finished. The clerk dismissed us for the rest of the term. After receiving my pay which amounted to 20.66, I got dinner and waited 4 o'clock and took train home. Expense - RR fare .80, dinner 25 cts. 07\28\1898 (Thursday) Went to the Mattatuck Co. shop to wrok but they had nothing for me to do as their business is getting less and less all the time so I came home and worked most of the day when it did not rain in the garden. Mr. Joseph Munger died this morning early at the New Haven Hospital where they took him from the sea shore where he went last week for his health. He lived on the Waterville Street and was aged 60 years. Mr. Munger has a mortgage on my house of $1,200 and I owed him one year's interest whcih was due June 17. I payed him 10.00 the early part of July and sent Mary to day with 10.00 more whcih she payed to Mrs. Munger leaving 52.00 more due. 07\29\{1898} (Friday) Went to work at the Mattatuck Shop to day but Harry Judd told me that they were hung up for something for me to do so I came home. I think that this means a final finish of my working for them and the beginning of the end of the Mattatuck Mfg. Co. for I do not believe it possible for them to run much longer under the management of the Judds as they have no mechanical knowledge. 07\30\{1898} (Saturday) Worked to day cutting brush in the pasture lot most of the time, had to stop this forenoon on account of the heat. The thermometer stood at 97 degrees in the shade and this afternoon it rained. Mr. Newell Moulthrop called this afternoon to see if I could get 14 drummers and fifers to play at Campounce{??} some day in the future. Went and stayed with Mr. Tucker to night. 07\31\{1898} Stayed with Mr. George W. Tucker last night, got up at 7 o'clock and Mr. Tucker got breakfast as the women and Horace had gone to Walnut Beach after which he, Joe Huey and myself ate frankfurts, cucumbers, rolls, coffee, etc. after which I read a book (Lord Chesterfield's Manners) for about two hours, when I came home and got ready for Chapel where I went at three o'clock and heard Mr. Buckley preach, there was collected $1.51. After service there was a funeral service in the Chapel, a son of Mrs. Fannie Hill, aged 5 years. James Porter's horse died yesterday. 08\01\1898 (Monday) Went to the Mattatuck shop this morning to see Mr. Judd and find out whether they wanted me to work any more or not. He said that they did want me sure, but that they had nothing for me to do then, so as I had some work to home I came and helped Mary wash, then pulled weed. After dinner, Pierpont, Clyde and myself went to town and bought some pine lumber of Tracy Brothers for which I paid 1.00 for 20 ft. then to Bonner & Preston and bought 2 gals. of linseed oil for which I payed .92 cts. thence to Hotchkiss and Templeton where I got 2 doz 1 1/2 round head steel screws for which I payed 10 cts, then up to the Old City Mills on North Main Street to see William Brooks. I found him painting the inside of the shop with a paint mixed as folows: cateine{?} plaster and whiting equal parts with a little glue thinned with water. Then we went by Lakewood and home, after supper I went to see Mr. Tucker. 08\02\{1898} (Tuesday) This morning dawned clear and warm. Went to my own shop with Clyde and Irving and there met the scrap iron man from the Waterbury Scrap Iron Co. and we loaded up a load of old iron, then we loaded up a load of tools and a drilling machine which we brought home. We worked the rest of the day cutting brush in the pasture lot. 08\03\{1898} (Wednesday) This morning I made a tool chest for Mr. Ealcott{??}, after which I cut brush all day. The weather was very warm. 08\04\{1898} (Thursday) Cut brush in the pasture lot all day. Went to see Cousin Clarissa Curtis of Stratford and her husband Melville, at Father's this evening. The Government expects to bring General Shafter's army north to Montank Pont on Long Island to stay through the hot weather. The cause of it is the numerous cases of yellow fever which now exist in the army. It is feared that fully half of the troops will perish if they remain in Santiago through the summer. 08\05\{1898} (Friday) Worked to day mowing grass in the upper pasture lot. Went to night to visit Cousin Clarissa and Melville. Took along several histories and old books which interested Clarissa very much as she is a great geneologist. 08\06\1898 (Saturday) Worked to day mowning and raking and carting hay from the upper pasture lot. Had 110 heaps. I could not work as fast as I liked to on account of a severe pain in my back and sides. 08\07\1898 (Sunday) My back pained me so much that I could not lie in bed this morning as long as I wished, so got up and stored away some hay in the barn. During the forenoon, brother Rolland Jenner called as he was out with his new bicycle for a ride. In the afternoon went to the Chapel with Mary at 3 o'clock, all of the children except Raymond going to Sunday school at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Mr. Faster preached. He is of Newark, N.J. In the evening Mary and I went to visit Mr. Tucker. Came home and went to bed at 10. 08\08\1898 (Monday) Run {Ran} the washing machine first thing and got through at about half past 8 and then went and opened out the hay and got in two loads before noon, and got in the remainder this afternoon. 08\09\{1898} (Tuesday) Painted the ceiling of the kitchen and dining room and my room this forenoon with a water paint made of calcined{??} plaster and glue water. This afternoon went over to Mr. Anderson's new house to see the Artezan{?} drilling machine work, then went in bathing, after which I came home and painted on the East end of the house. 08\10\{1898} (Wednesday) It rained all day to day and I cleaned the woodhouse, repaired the washing machine. Harry Kilbourn came and wanted a plank, which he got down to the shop. It measured 10 ft. at .03 cts., 30 cts. I went to the Mattatuck shop this afternoon and Mr. Judd told me to come to work tomorrow. Received a check to day from the Waterbury Scrap Iron Co. for eleven dollars and one cent for payment for 4,405 lbs old iron of 1/4 ct. per pound. 08\11\{1898} (Thursday) Went to work at the Matatuck shop to day, finished some sboking{???} boards which were to count out buttons on. Mary and I went to the Grange to night and I read a paper on wide tires and the wide tire law. 08\12\{1898} (Friday) Worked to day in the Mattatuck Co's shop tinkering on various things. This evening I went to see Mrs. Able to get a description of an old Italian woman who is stealing my potatoes in the Sherman Bronson lot. She gets the potatoes by digging into the hills with her hands and taking a few with each hand. 08\13\{1898} (Saturday) Sister Mary stayed to day with her children. I worked at the Mattatuck shop all day. Peace was declared between the United States of America and the Government of Spain yesterday. The President igned the bill at 4 o'clock and has ordered the blockade raised and most of the troops ordered home. No Connecticut troops have taken an active part in this war. The first Reg. were stationed for a time at Fort Knox at Bucksport, Maine and some of them were at Gull Island a short time. They were ordered back to Niantic and from thence to Camp Alger in Mo. from thence to New Port{??} News{??} where they were about to embark on board the transports for Cuba last Thursday when the order was countermanded and now they are about to return home. This evening I went to visit George Edwards. 08\14\{1898} Got up at 8 o'clock. Had breakfast of baked beans after which I wrote several letters and read some. Brother Rolland Jenner came about midnight and stayed with us. About noon Sister Mary and her two children Louise and Effel and Pierpont, Raymond, Clyde, Irving {????????} and myself went for a ride. Roll could not go as he had to play his coronet at Boulder Grove with the American Band. We went through Prospect to the lower part of Cheshire and down the mountain to the Cook places, then up to Roaring Brook, where we climbed up the gorge, the boys going to the top of the mountain, but as Mary got tired, we came back after going to the foot of the falls. We drove home over the old Cheshire road and had supper of ham, potaotes, string beans, etc. David B. Hamilton died this morning after a long illness. He was President of Rogers Brass Mfg. Co. of this city and Rogers Brass of Meriden. 08\15\{1898} (Monday) To day my boy Raymond is three years old. The children celebrated the occasion by a little birthday party. Went this evening to see Father about getting a job of work at the Waterbury Brass Co. 08\16\{1898} (Tuesday) Worked at the Mattatuck shop to day. 08\17\{1898} (Wednesday) Worked at the Mattatuck shop till noon. Mr. Judd ordered me to blue some buttons. Told him that I must have .40 cts an hour while I worked at that work. But it being very hot, I came home and intend to blue the buttons in the morning. This afternoon we had a severe shower accompanined with much thunder and lightning. It hailed quite hard for about 10 minutes. The stones were as large as walnuts, but it did little or no {damage} as far as I could learn. Miss Alice Pickett came out to go whortleberrying out to Austin B. Pierpont's and they sent Irving over to the lot after the horse. After he had caught him, he led him up to a rock to get on his back when he began to strike with his fore feet and dance up and down and finally broke and ran across the lot and lay down and rolled over and over. Irving was so surprised that he stood still and looked till he felt several stings. When he ran, the horse had stepped on a yellow jacket nest and stirred them up. 08\18\{1898} (Thursday) Worked at the Mattatuck shop to day. Went to the Grange this evening. The lightning struck Joe Laurence's house yesterday and did a great deal of damage. The bolt passed within a short distance of Mrs. Laurence's head as she stood holding clothes but did not hurt her. 08\19\{1898} (Friday) Arose this morning at 6.30. Had breakfast of boiled round clams and then Clyde and I went to painting the house. We would paint a spell and then wait for it to rain and then paint again and worked this way till about 3 o'clock when it cleared up so we got in something more than half time{??}. In the afternoon, Hattie Edwards came to visit the girls and intends to stay several days. Major Tucker called this afternoon to show me some buttons he had been experimenting with to remove the color. The troops are arriving at their new camp an Manataunk Point from Santiago de Cuba on the 15inst{??} Roosevelts Rough Riders{????} landed. This Regiment was raised in Arizona, New Mexico, Indian Territory and Oklahoma, and have seen more service than any other troops. The President ordered yesterday the mustering{??} out of service from 75,000 to 100,000 volunteers. 08\20\{1898} (Saturday) Got up this morning at half past five and went to painting on my house. Mary and the children got ready and went to the Sunday School picnic at Mr. Garrigus', started at eleven o'clock. Bertha and Clara French called after they had gone to have their bicycle tire "blown up". So I filled them with wind. Then I got ready and went to Mr. Tucker's and we drove to Thomas Fairclough's in Wolcott thence to Wolcott Center then up Pudding Street to Charles Minar's then over to Plumb Street and over Pike Hill and stopped at the old burying ground. Then we went to the Wird{??} Burying Ground where we met one Mr. Henry Pond of Bristol who told me that his wife was sister to Mr. Luman Lewis of Southington and that his son and my mother were second cousins. He, Mr. Pond, is 84 years old and she 82 years. Came home through Woodtick and found the folks home from the picnic. They had had a nice time. 08\21\{1898} (Sunday) Mr. Howell preached this afternoon at Mill Plain Chapel. There was a large attendence. My wife and I walked across the lots with Mr. and Mrs. Able and Agnes, Olive and the children. Heard that Mr. Joseph Rodier was very sick. Someone killed a rattlesnake on the Meriden Road near the South Schoolhouse in Wolcott. Joseph Huey was discharged from the Mattatuck shop yesterday, they not having business enough to keep him. 08\22\{1898} (Monday) Margin note: We paddled in a brook that had big flat stones After breakfast this morning, Mary, Clyde Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, Raymond, Hattie Edwards and myself took old Jack and the business wagon, (except Clyde and Irving who went on their wheels) and drove to Pike Hill in the North Eastern part of Wolcott, whortleberrying{?} where we picked about 8 quarts of berries. There is an ancient burying ground on this hill where we picked the berries, several stones of which are standing. They mark the graves of Blakeslees, Bracketts, Meax{?} and others. Mr. Henry A. Pond of Bristol told me that his grandfather and grandmother were buried here. I counted 24 graves on a former visit when the leaves were off the trees and bushes. It has ever since my remembrance ben grown up in common woods. On one of the stones is the following inscription, Mrs. Rachel Brackett, who died Oct. 12th 1776 in the 22nd year of her age. When you are blooming young and spry, Perhaps you think you nere shall die, But here' s a witness of the truth, That you may die when in your youth. I hope that sometime I shall be one of the number to clean up and restore that sacred ground. From Pike Hill we went East down the hill to the Wird{??} Burying Ground then South about a quarter of a mile to a lot on the East side of the road where we found a fine spring of water and where we picked 12 quarts of blackberries, after which we we drove over Pike's Hill again then North to the Cedar Swamp Road which we took, and went down past the old schoolhouse (still in use) and across the dam and over the North end of Spindle Hill to home where we arrived at 8 o'clock. After we had been home a short time, sister Cara came with Miss Amelia Burnhart in Mr. Edward Todd's carriage and said that she had broken Father's carriage out{?} to Mr. Todd's and wished we would go out with her and get it. I told her I would go. Just then Irving told me that Mrs. Gallivan who lives in the next house was in the front yard drunk and was going to stay all night. I went and managed to get her home by holding her from falling and found her husband and left them jawing{?}. When I came back I found Mr. Fred Woods with a bill of an old account that shows according to his figures that I owe him over $100.00 dollars. After eating a few mouthfuls, Cara and I drove to Mr. Todd's and Southington Mountain and I found that two of the carriage axles were sprung and set them back and we drove home, it being very dark and hot. 08\23\{1898} (Tuesday) Worked about home all day, saw Mr. Sidney Bronson and he wants me to build an ice house for him. Bought a barrell of flower {flour} of Mr. Thomas Kelly (Baker) to day for $5.25. 08\24\{1898} (Wednesday) Welded a set of steel tires for John French this forenoon and cleaned out the chicken coop and privy. Painted on the house till 4 o'clock when Clyde, Pierpont and myself got ready and drove to town, went first to the Mattatuck shop where I got what was due me, $7.00 but Mr. Judd had my pay made out 5.00. After some argument he admitted that I had worked three and one half days and there was due me $7.00 Then I went to Mr. Davenport's to see about getting someone to preach at the Chapel next Sunday. He expects to be in Northfield and all of the Congregational ministers are having their vacation. He told me of a Mr. Hendsey at No. 53 Spenser Avenue that I might get. I went thither but found that he was away on his vavcation too. I then went to see Mr. Haldenat{??}, his store on North Main Street, but it threatened rain so I started over long hill as fast as we could drive to Morris Alcott's where I saw his father and asked him if he would ask Morris if he would get the Waterville minister. Then we started for home. It was thundering and lightning North and West of us and when we reached the Schoolhouse, it began lightning south of us. The rain was coming from all directions except East and there was no escaping getting wet, and we sped fast as possible and {???} the rain at the Grange Hall. We got soaked before we reached home. The thunder was terrific and the lightning sharp. 08\25\{1898} (Thursday) Worked this forenoon about home. Mr. Sidney P. Bronson called and wanted me to go to his farm in East Farms and build an ice house. I went there to work at noon and worked till six o'clock. 08\26\{1898} (Friday) Worked at Sid Bronson's all day. A party of young men came to night to have me learn them to drum. 08\27\{1898} (Saturday) Worked to day for Sid Bronson. He paid me amount due, 5.00. 08\28\{1898} (Sunday) Staid about home all day except in the eveningc went to see Father. Mr. Rafter{??} preached at the Chapel. 08\29\{1898} (Monday) To day I worked at S. P. Bronson's on his ice house. 08\30\{1898} (Tuesday) Worked on S.P. Bronson's ice house till noon, and then went to work in his silo packing corn. He had 16 men and 5 double teams getting in the corn. Clyde and Mort Pierpont went to New Haven to day on their wheels. 08\31\{1898} (Wednesday) Worked to day at S.P. Bronson's getting in the silo corn. He had 20 men and 7 double teams. 09\01\{1898} (Thursday) Worked at S.P. Bronson's packing his silo corn in his ice house. Mary and I went to the Grange this evening. Joseph Rodier died this afternoon of a cancer in the rectum. 09\02\{1898} (Friday) Arose this morning at 5.30. Went to Sid Bronson's and finished putting the roof on the silo, got through at half past eleven. Then went to A. B. Pierpont's and got a scythe and snath{????}. Came home and had dinner at noon, after which Clyde and I painted on the house till night. In the evening Charlie Hotchkiss, George Cass, Burt Haskins, Arthur Pierpont, Mort Pierpont, Howard Neil, Burt Pierpont, Clarence Warden, Art Warden and Irving came to learn to drum and Clyde and Robert Hotchkiss and Charlie Cass were practicing fifing. The drummers were in the new carriage house and the fifers were in my room, Charlie Cass sitting where I am now. While we were practicing, a thunder shower came up and the lightning struck the chimney and scattered the bricks about the yard and street. One bolt went down the Southeast valley{??} and followed the corner{?} past down to the veranda roof, stripping off the plaster on the inside and the clappards{?} on the out. Another ran down the NE corner {Margin note: Ruth and I were upstairs in " new building " - M. H.} conductor pipe tearing off some of the cornace{??} on its way and made a hole in the ground about the size of a waterpail, another followed two rafters from the chimney to the eve{?} trough and then along the conductor pipe to the ground at the N. W. corner. This bolt tore up splinters on the floor where I am no sitting in front of my desk. Charlie Cass was sitting here at the time, and Clyde was sitting at his left and Rob Hotchkiss at his right. I doubled Charlie Cass up like a jackknife and shacked{?} all three. There were two distinct marks on Clyde's left leg like {????} + +, one above the other and both above the knees. We thought that the house was on fire and the drummers rushed in and we found the garret full of smoke but there was no fire. Mary at the time was in the front chamber upstairs. Joe Huey was sitting at the table in the sitting room, holding Raymond in his lap. Pierpont was in bed in his room in the N. E. chamber. Charlie Cass, Rob Hotchkiss and Clyde were in the N. E. room down stairs. It seems a miracle that none were hurt more than they were. Irving had just taken the cushion and blankets out of the bugger{??} by the chicken coop and he was knocked down flat, when we were coming to the house. Charlie Hotchkiss picked up a brick and it burned the inside of his hand. 09\03\{1898} (Saturday) After breakfast this morning we cleaned up about the house and got ready to repair the chimney which was knocked all to pieces by the lightning last night at a little before 9 o'clock. Then wrote a letter to Fred in Detroit about his furniture. Then went to see Mr. Jones the insurance agent who insured my house in the Oriental Co. of Hartford about getting the insurance and pyut in a claim of fifty dollars which he said he would report at the companie's headquarters and told me to call next Tuesday or Wednesday, told me to repair the chimney but to leave the rest till after it is settled. Came home and ate dinner of boiled beans and then went to work at the chimney and worked the rest of the afternoon. The Mattatuck shop did not run to day. Mr. Sidney P. Bronson paid me this afternoon for the labor I had done him to date, $8.00. 09\04\{1898} (Sunday) This day has been one of the hottest ever known. The thermometer stood 100 degrees in the shade and 128 in the sun. I stayed home most of the day till 3 o'clock when we went to the Chapel and heard the Rev. Mr. Perry preach. There were but few people there owing to the heat. In the evening went to see Mr. Tucker, came home and to bed at 11.30. 09\05\{1898} (Monday) To day is Labor Day and is a legal holiday. The young people of the vicinity wanted me to take them to the Memeriden Mountain. There were about 50 people and Arthur Pierpont's bus and 8 other teams carried them besided several of the boys who went on their bicycles. We started at 9 o'clock from the corner of the Meriden Road above Austin Pierpont's and arrived at the mountain at about 4.30 o'clock. Had a picnic, setting the tings out on the ground, and the people sitting on horse blankets, cushions. After all had eaten, we climbed to the top of West Peak but the atmosphere was heavy and we could not see the sound nor the capitol at Hartford, but the view from there was grand. I found the spring on the West side of the mountain of which I had heard. It is in a cave on the West side of the mountain about 1/8 of a mile North of the West peak and to reach it one must climb down a steep ravine. We started for home about 4 o'clock and went first to Meriden then turned North this side of the crossing of the West Main Street by the Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Rail Road (not in use) and went up through Cat* Hole Pass to {Margin notes: } 1) Mr. Warden was sick - M. Hall 2)We children went to sleep on the floor of the "bus" (Arthur Pierpont's peach wagon) 3) * Is the "Cat" still there? It was a rock formation high above the road that looked like a big {???} cat ready to pounce on us. Southington. Through this pass we saw some of the most interesting work of nature that I ever saw. The pass is only wide ebough for the road in some places and mountains tower on each side, while farther on the country becomes open, but is enclosed by mountains on all sides. In going to Southington, we got lost and came out at Mill Dale and got home at about 11.00 o'clock, that is some of us did. Mr. Byan's team, Chas Casses' team and Mr. Warden's team turned back in Meriden and they got home sooner. 09\06\{1898} (Tuesday) Worked about home all day. 09\07\{1898} (Wednesday) Worked about home all day. 09\08\{1898} (Thursday) Went to day to Platt's Mills to see Mr. Osbourn{?} about the lay{law??} that provides for the education of scholars in towns where there is no high school. Saw Mr. Ben Bristol. He seemed rather anxious that I should help them out about steel buttons. Mr. Jones and William Chatfield called to see about the amount of damage the lightning done to my house. 09\09\{1898} (Friday) Worked for Wilson L. Pierpont in his Springfield lot in Mill Plain this forenoon, and at his farm in East Farms this afternoon cutting corn. 09\10\1898 (Saturday) Worked all day to day up in Wilson pierpont's Springfield meadow cutting and loading fodder corn. Found two Indian arrow points there. 09\11\1898 (Sunday) Got up at 7 o'clock, wrote letters to F. A. Hulls Co., Danbury, L L Enswort{?} & Son, Hartford, and Fred D. Miller, Detroit, Mich. Had breakfast of boiled beel{??} after which I cleaned the backyard. Rolland Jenner came and tole me of a Mr. Buckmaster{??} who could pack Fred's furniture which he wants me to send to him. Went to the Chapel this afternoon and heard Mr. Buckley preach a sermon on the last war. In the evening went to see Mr. Tucker. He told me that in hardening steel butttons, they wanted to be left in the furnace at a cherry{?} heat from 14 to 16 hours. 09\12\{1898} (Monday) The weather wasvery cold this morning. After a breakfast of boiled eggs, I went to W. L. Pierpont's and tended silo cutter all day. Went to town this evening to see Mr. Buckmaster but did not see him as his house was all dark when I got there. 09\13\{1898} (Tuesday) Went to Wilson Pierpont's and tended cutter for cutting up silo corn. Clyde is fourteen years old to day. 09\14\{1898} (Wednesday) after a breakfast of fried ham and eggs, I went to W. L. Pierpont's and worked cutting corn till eleven o'clock. Came home and had dinner of succotash after which I went to see Mr. Buckmaster and found that he is coming to llok at Fred's furniture tomorrow. Then went to see Mr. Jones but he was not in. Then to the Town Clerk's office to look up the records, then to Platts Mills to see Mr. Benjamin Bristol about making steel buttons for the Platt Brass. Got home at 6 o'clock and went to bed at 8 o'clock. 09\15\1898 (Thursday) After a hurried breakfast I went to Arthur Pierpont's to help him fill his silo this morning. His two silos hold 120 tons of corn. Staid there all day. In the evening went to Grange Hall to Miss Girtrude Bradley's entertainment, she being {?????} of the Grange. The flowers were fine and were furnished mostly by Maj. Tucker. There was a little fruit, the entertainment program was very good. One James Martain of the City to day jumped from the high bridge that crosses the Meriden Waterbury and Conn. River R.R. at the point where the Od Prospect Road crossed it, near Henry Wedge's, with intent to commit suicide. He broke one leg but was not otherwise injured. He told his wife with whom he was riding that he wanted to get out and walk a little ways and then jumped. 09\16\{1898} (Friday) Was at Arthur Pierpont's all day filling his silo. Roll Jenner was brought home to day sick. 09\17\{1898} (Saturday) Worked lining up an old silo, the first ever made in this section built in 1893 for A. B. Pierpont. Mr. Buckmaster and two assistants came and packed some of Fred's goods. 09\18\{1898} (Sunday) Staid home all day. 09\19\{1898} (Monday) Went to Arthur Pierpont's and helped him fill his silo. 09\20\{1898} (Tuesday) Was at Arthur Pierpont's all day. 09\21\{1898} (Wednesday) Went to the Nangatuck Rail Road depot and found that the "star union line" was the best freight route to ship Fred's furniture to Detroit and that it would cast .59 cts per hundred lbs, then went and saw Mr. John Jones about the insurance on my house. We agreed that the damage caused by lightning could be settled and repaired for thirty dollars. He is going to have Wm. Chatfield do the plastering and give him ten dollars and pay me twenty dollars cash. Then went to see Mr. Lewis Platt about making steel buttons but found that he was out of town, from Platt's office on Brown St., I went to the barber shop over Lake and Strobell's Jewelry Store meeting on the way sister Iva and told her to wait a little while and I would bring her home, after having my hair cut for which I paid 20 cts. I went to the butter store on South Main St. and bou 1 lb. of butter for which I paid 20 cts. then got my team and came home. Found Arthur Pierpont in front of my house on his team wagon and made an agreement to have him carry Fred's furniture to the depot. He paid me $10.00 for the 5 days work I did for him. Had dinner after which I went to Mr. Tucker's and worked 3 1/2 hours banking{??} celery. {Note: I remember him doing it. - M.H.} 09\22\1898 (Thursday) This morning I repaired the roof to the old shed to some extent. About 16 o'clock Arthur Pierpont's team came and we loaded brother Fred's furniture on to the wagon and I took the remainder on my one horse wagon and we took it to the Nangatuck Rail Road depot. It weighed 3080 lbs and cost $18.17 to send it. I paid Arthur Pierpont $4.00 for carrying the furniture to the depot, after unloading and settling for the furniture, I went to Mr. Buckmaster's upholstering shop on Abbott Avenue to get his bill for packing the furniture but he was not in, after which I drove through Spenser Ave. to Kingsbury St. to North Elm to Maple Ave. to Cherry to Camp then across High Rock to Walnut St. then over Long Hill on the summit of which I met William Todd and he told me that last night the Republican's nominated Charlie Horn of Linden Street for first selectman and Mr. Schmidt second. Came home via the Stetson Road. I in the evening went to the Grange with Mary. Today is Mary's birthday, she is 38 years old. To me she seems as young as she did when I married her when she was 23 although we have now a family of six children. 09\23\{1898} (Friday) Staid about home all day, repaired the roof on the old shed. 09\24\{1898} (Saturday) Clyde and I mowed the swamp back of Mrs. Larman Johnson's house. We got very wet and chilled with the rain. In the afternoon, I went to see Gilbert Hotchkiss about selling my shop but he was not at home, from thence went to Miles Payne's and got my horse shod, came home, and Irving went to Hemingway's fish market and got the oysters for tomorrow's breakfast. This afternoon I received Mr. Buckmaster's bill for packing Fred's furniture. It amounted to $27.28. Wrote him a letter and mailed it to him. 09\25\{1898} (Sunday) Staid about home most of the day. Went to the Chapel. Mr. Waters preached. 09\26\{1898} (Monday) Ran the washing machine for Mary this morning, then went to Johnson's swamp and tedded{??} out my hay, came home and made a hay rigging. Then went out and raked the hay up and carted it home which took the rest of the day. 09\27\{1898} (Tuesday) This day is the fortieth anniversary of my birth, having as my mother told me been born on Sept 27th, 1858. My son Pierpont, 5 yrs., and I drove today from home to Cousin Malachi Gillette's in North Goshen. We left home at about 8 o'clock and drove to town, where I bought a pair of pants for Pierpont at Jones & Morgan's Clothing Store for which I paid 48 cts, took the old pants to Miss Pickett's and left them and the change from a $10.00 bill except $2.00 which I kept. We left Waterbury Center at 9.15 and drove to Watertown, a distance of 6 miles, from thence to Bethlehem, 6 miles, thence to Romford station on the Shepanhg River 8 miles, then to Woodville 3 miles, thence through a rough country near a little river to Milton 6 miles, then to West Goshen over a rough road but through a very interesting country, a distance of 4 1/2 miles, then over a fine road to Goshen Center 1 1/2 miles, where I stopped and put the horse under the Congregational Church sheds and went to a Harness Shop and enquired for Mr. and Mrs. Martain where Agnes Able was visiting as I supposed. We called there but she was not there and was not coming till next Sunday Mrs. Martain said. We then went to the Post Office and I mailed a letter to brother Fred in Detroit. We left for North Goshen at 6 o'clock via North Street and the road that runs over Ivy Mountain and came out at Luddington's Corner on East Street and then to cousin Malachi's, the road through would have been dark and dangerous, had it not been for the bright moon. We found them all well and gald to see us. Cousin Lillie got supper for us. The distance from Goshen to North Goshen was 5 miles, and the distance from home to Waterbury Center 2 miles makes a distance of forty-two miles that we traveled. 09\28\{1898} (Wednesday) This forenoon at about 11 o'clock, Cousin Malachi and I after eating a lunch drove over to Obed Stannard's in South Norfolk, who is a first cousin to my father. We got there a little after twelve as they were preparing dinner. We sat down and dined with them, after which we visited a while. They have a fine farm, keep about 25 cows, everything seems to be up in good repair and thrifty{?}. The family consists of himself and wife, a son whom I did not see, and a daughter Blanche aged 17. The house is situated on a hill where a fine view of parts of Goshen and Ivy Mountain and the Tower may be seen in the West and S.W. To the S.E. Winchester Center is in full view and a tower for observation van be seen on Platt Hill beyond. From Obed Stannard's we drove to Horrace [Horace?] Stannard's at Norfolk Center stopping on the way at a little cemetery on the right hand side of the road where many of the Stanards are buried. Mr. Horace Stannard has a fine place a little East of Norfolk and his business is keeping teams and carrying the New York boarders around sightseeing for which they pay well. He had to go away and we only saw him a few minutes. His wife seemed like a very nice woman, after a short stay we went to a grist on the West Side of the town and got a bag of meal and then drove home to Malachi Gillette's. 09\29\1898 (Thursday) To day Cousin Mal went to work for Owen Hallock getting out manure. Mr. Hallock owns over 1200 acres of land and 150 head of cattle. Pierpont and I took Old Jack, the horse and drove to Ivy Mountain, by way of the "black land". We went up the tower where we had a grand view of the country for miles around could see the Catskill Mountains on the West and way up in Mass. on the North and great distances in other directions, but the atmosphere was a little hazy otherwise we could see more. From the mountain we went N.W. through the Ovaitt [Oviatt] District to Cornwall Hollow, passing a house on the way near the school house in the Ovaitt [Oviatt] District, with a bank wall in front, some of the cap stones of which were over 30 feet in length I should judge. At Cornwall Hollow I saw the General Sedgewick Mansion and also the Cemetery where he is buried. Mr. Samuel Gillette of North Goshen told me the following history of the Gen. Sedgewick place. The father of the General when a Colonel in the Revolutionary War was stationed at Dutch Bridge in Massachusetts and while there the Tories burned his house, which was a log one. He brought his regiment to Cornwall Hollow and built a large new house where the old log house had stood. With the great number of men and by pressing all the sawmills in service that were in that section, he completed the new house with the exception of a few miunor details in the remarkably short time of three days. He dug the cellar after the war was over. Mr. Gillette and a friend were passing over a mountain over looking Cornwall Hollow in 1857 when they chanced to see smoke issuing from the garrett window of this Sedwick House. They watched it a few minutes and saw that the house was on fire. They hastened there as soon as possible and by the time they arrive d there the whole thing had got beyond control and burned to the ground. The General at the time was in the West fighting the Indians and soon he came home and built the present mansion. Mr. Gillette built the cellar and did all of the stone work. It was there that his remains were brought from the fatal field of Spottsylvania Court House after the Rebel sharpshooter's bullet had doen its work. The incident of his death was as follows, On Monday May 9th, 1865 as he was directing the placing of some pieces of Artillery, some Rebel sharp-shooters stationed in some trees about a mile off were firing at them. Some of the Staff officers were annoyed and spoke words of caution to the General his reply was "Poo, they couldn't hit an elephant at that distance." He had scarcely uttered the words when he fell dead; pierced through the head with a blullet. Brigadier John Sedgwick was respected by all the Northern Nation; His soldiers loved him and were ready to follow "Uncle John" wherever he might lead. (The above was told me by a veteran who was with the General and witnessed his death). The people from the country for miles round turned out to do honour to his name at the funeral as well as many of the Nation's officials both Civil and Military. From Cornwall Hollow we went to North Cornwall and thence to Cornwall Center, thence over the mountains north of West Goshen, around West and North of Tyler Pond over some finefarming country, then North up past the West side of "West Side Pond" where I got bewildered but I found two school boys going home, who I took into the wagon and they showed me the way to Ivy Mountain, their names were Howe{??}. I followed their {??} and got to North Goshen at dark. 09\30\{1898} (Friday) This is the last day of the month, how fast time travels. I stayed at Cousin Mall's this forenoon and read the "Life of Gen Lafyette". After dinner PIerpont and I went to the North Pond and took a boat and rowed to the North end and then walked through some brush and swamp to the "Tipping Rock". It is a great boulder which I measured and figured that it would weigh 32 tons, which sits on top of an elevated bed rock or ledge, and by pushing on the East or West side it will rock back and forth, so well balanced is it, that after it has been set in motion, it will continue to rock some time, it is about 9 ft high and the top moved about six inches. Cousin Marion did not go as she expected as she intends to go home with us tomorrow. 10\01\{1898} (Saturday) This morning dawned clear and fine, we have had nice weather now for two weeks. We, Cousin Marion, Pierpont and I, got ready and started for Waterbury a little after seven o'clock, drove through Goshen East Street to Litchfield, thence through West Morris to Waertown, the country through which we passed was pleasing to the eye and everything was interesting. From Watertown we came through the center of Waterbury home where we arrived about 2 o'clock. The weather during the last part of the trip was very hot and we ad to drive slow. In the evening we went to town and took Marion to see the fire horses come from their stables and take their places in the harness when the alarm rings at 9 o'clock. She also went round the center with Clyde and saw the crowds of people which surprised her, as she had never been in the City before in the evening. After we got home, I went to see Mr. Tucker but could not wake him up, so came home to bed at 11.45. //new journal starts here; October 1898 - October 1899// //[encoded by Mary LaRue, December 1989] //{marginal and interlinear comments apparently by Margaret Miller //Northrop Hall, at some point when reading journals} 10\02\1898 (Sunday) After doing the chores and eating break- fast. [[Ch]] Irving, Margaret, Ruth, and myself went to St. Johns Church to let Cousin Marion hear the boy Choir, and see the Church. We went to the Chapel in the after- noon and heard Mr. Perry preach an excellent sermon. The amount collected at this service was $1.75. In the evening Clyde, Mary, Marion, and Myself went to the Second Congregational church and Mr. Davenport preached. They had a large nice Choir. After service we came to father's and the girls played and we sang for a long time, after which we came home, and went to stay with Mr. Tucker, but he had gone to bed and I came home and went to bed at 11.30. 10\03\1898 (Monday) Today is town election and I went and voted for Charles Horne (?) for first Select man, and the straight Republican ticket right through, also No Licence." Went to Platt Bros and saw Mr. L.A. Platt about making steel buttons, He seemed very nice, took my address and said that he would send for me to come and see them in a few days when he was not so busy. From there went to see Mr. Jones about the insurance money for damage done my house by lightening. He was mad as he had been twice to see Mrs. Munger about signing the certificate {cirtificate} (which was necessary as she holds the mortgage {morgage} on the house) and she would not, Came home and went to Robert Warden's at East farms, and dug potatoes all the afternoon; Cousin Marion Gillette went home to North Goshen this afternoon left on the train that leaves here at 3.58. In the evening went to see Mr Wallace Camp in answer to a letter to call and see about the insurance, Found that he is Mrs Mungers advisor, and a man that is more particular than he is wise, we went to see Mrs Munger, she says that she does not know much about insurance and leaves it with Mr Camp, He pretends to know all about it and more too, But it was left that I see Mr Jones and try to do something I do not know what, 10\04\1898 (Tuesday) Worked at Robert Wardens all day digging potatoes, finished late to night, he paid me 2.50 for what I had done 10\05\1898 (Wednesday) It has rained most of the time to day, spent the forenoon in writing up this journal and in reading, Mr Barmer was buried from the Chapel this afternoon, This afternnon I went to see Mr Jones about the insurance money, Mrs Munger was there yesterday, and said that she would sign the cirtificates if I would bring them to her, I carried them to her and she signed them as I did after which I brought them to Mr Jones and he drew a check in my favor for twenty dollars and kept ten dollars to give to Wm Chatfield to pay him for plaster- ing. I took the check of $20.00 to Mrs Munger and she gave me a receipt, I then went to Weaters store on East Main Street and bought 18 lbs of sugar for one dollar, then came home. Mr Nelson Hall was found dead in his bed this morning. 10\06{written over 5}\1898 (Thursday) Worked all day digging potatoes in the Sherman Bronson lot, dug 14 1/2 bu Went to the Grange with Mary this evening, Learned that Mr Nelson Hall is to be buried from the Chapel next sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. 10\07{written over 6}\1898 (Friday) Dug 22 1/2 bushels of potatoes to- day, The drum Corps boys came this evening and practiced. Mr. Tucker sent a note by Mrs Marrow to have me come and see him after I got throught with the Drummers. Ed Holden got through working at the Mattatr- ek shop yesterday. Willdon Bros No 31 Auburn St Boston Mass Dealers in button steel, so Tucker told me 10\08\1898 (Saturday) We built a shed this forenoon, to keep the horse sled in and wheel barrows in. This afternoon about 5 o'clock, I went to town and paid Mr Buckmaster a Post Office Order of $27.28 which brother Fred sent me from Detroit, to pay for packing his furniture. 10\09\1898 (Sunday) We, that is Sister Mary Jenner, and her two children, Pierpont, and myself, in my two seated wagon Father and Mother, in their carriage and Rolland Jenner with his Bycicle went to the top of the Meriden mountain, where we had a fine view of a great portion of the state, including a little of long island sound. Mr Nelson Hall was buried from the Chapel this afternoon. Mr Maya officiated, The Grange service was also used. 10\10\1898 (Monday) Worked at Mr Tuckers from 9 oclock till six banking Celery. 10\11\1898 (Tuesday) Was at Mr Tuckers from 6 till 12 work- ing in the garden, This afternnon we went to the Wolcott Fair Ground to arrange the Grance exibit for the Fair tomorrow, but there was not enough to arrange, so we came home and I went to Platts Mills, to see if I could get a job. 10\12\1898 (Wednesday) Went up to Mr Tuckers this mor- ning, and he took me to the Wolcott Fair ground where he was to arran- ge the Grange exibit, we found Clyde there he had walked and got there ahead of us, there was but a few pumpkins, and squashes and some other vegitibles there and Mr Tucker thought that there was not enough to pay to bother with so as it was raining, we started home, and went to Waterbury center by way of Lakewood, as we were coming down North Main St we saw the flag on City hall at half mast and on enquiry found that Mr Gurnesey Parsons, the Banker, and he who had also been Mayor of the City was dead, Then we came home, and I went to digging potatoes and dug and put into the cellar 5 bushels. this makes a total of 42 bushels I have now in the Cellar. When the Boys got home from the Wolcott Fair they said that it was the largest Fair that they have ever held. 10\13\1898 (Thursday) Worked for Mr Tucker all day, Mary and I went to the Grange this evening 10\14\1898 (Friday) Worked for Mr Tucker from 8 o clock. It commenced to rain as I was coming home, from work, We have had fine weather till now. 10\15\1898 (Saturday) Today the weather has been variable. Cool, windy, rainy, and fair, Agness Cohle came, at about quarter to six to see if we were going to Roaringbrook in Cheshire we were not up when she came, but got up as soon as possible, and told her, that we would go. We then got ready, and sent Pierpont and Raymond to Mothers to stay, and Clyde, Irving, Charlie Hotchkiss and I went to Mother Pierponts and cut firewood, till Mary came with my team and then we went to the East Farms School house where we were to meet at 10 o'clock. In due time all of the teams arrived except George Cass and we started at the appointed time in the following order. First Arthur Pierpont with his vegtable wagon and a pair of horses, he had with him Mrs Levelette Upson,(2) Miss Bessie Garrigus (3), Mr Lewis Garrigus (4) Annie and Minnie Garrigus (6) (twins) and Jessie Garrigus (7), and Willie Garrigus (8), Jessie Monroe (9) Flora (10) and Lewis Hitchcock (11), Charlie Hotchkiss (12), Mort (13) and Fred Pierpont (14), Edith Pierpont (15) Clyde (16) and Irving [[Pierpont]] Miller (17), Arthur Warden (18), Flossy Upson (19), and Henry Cass (20). Next came my team with Ruth, Margaret, my Wife and Myself, next Mr Mun- sons team with Mrs Thedore Munson, Agness Able, and Earl Munson, and George Cass met us there with Miss Ida Spender, We went there by way of the Plank Road to Gilletts Corner then by Matherns Street to Rag. Hallay Road to Lights Pond then down the mountain to Cooks Corner on the New Haven Road and then to the Brook and Gorge, After eating our refreshments at the foot of the Gorge we started for the summit which was over 400 feet above us, Many of the ladies were struck with the beauty of the gorge, especially the 60 ft falls, the Eave trough, and deep pool. At the top of the Mountain we had a fine view of a portion of the sound, and East Rock with the Souldiers Monument on it, Meriden, Wallingford, Cheshire etc. We started home {marginal note: I remember about the watch-- different handwriting} at about 4 o'clock, where we arrived after dark, All having a good time, but Mort Pierpont lost a fine silver watch which his Father gave him for Christmas, Coming home, we, Clyde, Chas Hotchkiss and myself, agreed to start at three o'clock in the morning and go over the ground where Mort had been and see if we could find it, After I had eaten my supper and done my chores Mrs Marrow called and told me that Mr Tucker was very sick, and wanted me to come up immediately, I went and found him in bed with his clothes on. He had been taken with a dullness and dizzyness at about 6 o'clock and fell at the foot of the stairs, They got him up in bed, and called Dr Ward, his pults were 42 and and he appeared very sick, I was to give medicine every 15 minutes, got his clothes off and put him in bed with a water bottle at his feet and plenty of bed clothes on and warmed him up, and at eleven o'clock he was much better and went to sleep, I lay on the back side of the bed, but did not wake him to give medicine, and at 1.30 I fell a sleep {margin: 10\16\1898 (Sunday)} but awoke at three, he seemed much better, and said that he would be all right if I wanted to go away. So I started home as fast as I could had a lantern to see the way across the lots, got Clyde up, and hitched up the horse as soon as I could and we went to Charlie Hotchkisses and Clyde drummed on the front door, and I on the back, till we finally awoke him up, then we started and reached the top of the mountain at day break. we looked the ground over with great care but did not find the watch, we then explored a dry gorge, North of Roaring brook. We followed the brook up to the old mill, and saw some trout 10 inches long, We then went to the top of the mountain and followed it South to the road, we then got the team and went south through the Woods to the South mountain road but had difficulty in getting through and had almost reached the road when, in trying to cross a little bog hole the horse went in almost out of sight and we had a great time getting him unhitched and out, the harness was broke some but we tied it up, and started home via Prospect center, we reached home at three and after getting cleaned up and eating supper (we having eaten no meal since supper last night) I went to see Mr Tucker, found him very blue but much better, I stayed with him all night. The Rev Mr Hanna of the First Methodist Church preached at the Chapel this afternoon. 10\17\1898 (Monday) Helped Mary at the washing this morning by running the washing machine, After which I went to work for Mr Tucker at banking celery and moving hay in the barn got there at 9 o'clock and got through at 4 o'clock. Mr Fanias Hahn a tool maker at Steel and Johnsons is building a house on the Meriden turnpike near the watering trough this side of Amanda Griswolds place. 10\18\1898 (Tuesday) Worked from eight to four o'clock for Hiram Able mowing in his swamps Mafor Tucker paid me 3.00 Levelette Upson of the Meriden Road got kick- ed by his horse, and it broke his nose, and knocked one eye out 10\19\1898 (Wednesday) Rained hard all day. 10\20\1898 (Thursday) Worked for Hiram Able 8 hours 10\21\1898 (Friday) George Case called this morning and wanted me to go to his house and lay up a bank wall. I then went and got my wagon up to the swamp on the Dolittle place where I have been working at hay for Hiram Able, and took one front wheel, to Miles Paynes on East Mountain to have it repaired, I then went to work for George Cass and laid wall from 8 till 5 o'clock. A Mrs Roase of Naugatuck murdered by Mrs Mariana Pompania last night. They were both Italians and were fighting. 10\22\1898 (Saturday) Rained all day. They boys and I put a plank floor in the horse stable 10\23\1898 (Sunday) Read and wrote, on a paper about the march of Count De Rachambeaus army through Connecticut, in 1781, till it was time to go to the Chapel, the Rev Mr Davenport preached a good sermon, as he always does, but I cannot now recall a single word of it. 10\24\1898 (Monday) This morning went to Gilbert Hotchkiss on East Mountain, to see him about selling my shop to some friend of his. Found outnothing as he had not heard from his friend, Then went to Miles Paynes, and got a wheel that he had repaired for me, for which he charged one dollar, He gave me a check on Holmes & Parsons Bank for Nine dollars and Seventy two cents, which amount he owed me, Then came home and had breakfast, and went to Hiram Ables and opened out his hay, then to George Casse's at 9 o'clock and laid wall till noon then with George Cass and Charlie Hotchkiss after dinner and got Hiram Ables hay into a stack, which took till four o'clock then to George Cass and laid wall till dark, a little after five o'clock. Hiram Able called in the evening to asertain how much I charged for getting in his hay I told him $5.00 10\25\1898 (Tuesday) This morning went to George Casse's and laid wall, about 10 o'clock Wm Purdy of Prospect came to see me about doing some joiner work up to the Pratt place on East Moun- tain, Went up with him and found that he had lately become posessor of the farm and wanted new sills put under the barn, and 15 ft built on the South end. I told him that I would start on it next thursday morning, am to get $2.50 per day. 10\26\1898 (Wednesday) Worked repairing the harness till ten o'clock, then hitched up and went to town, it raining. Stopped at the Mattatuck Mfg Co on my way, Went first to Holmes & Parsons bank, and got the check that Miles Paynes gave me cashed 9.72, then went to Tracy Bros to see about trading some hard wood lumber for some shealk- ing, then to the Chas Flacker Co and bought some elboes, and nipples for 1/2 iron pipe to rep Mother Pierponts watering trough with .25 thence to Jones & Morgans and bought two pairs of overalls and jumpers for which I paid 1.90. thence to Miller & Pecks and bought 1 yd of elastic for .05 from thence to D. L. Dickinson's and got a bag of oats for 1.15 then home where I arrived at 12.30 o'clock, worked about home in the afternoon cleaning and repairing my harness. 10\27\1898 (Thursday) [[Wednesday]] Went to work today for William Purdy at the Pratt place on East Mountain, Worked 9 hours, chopping down trees and drawing the logs down to the barn for the sills etc. Received a letter to day from Mr D. G. Porter, asking me to return a old mowing machine that I borrowed of him in 18 but which Miss Girtrude Bradley who acted as his agent while he was in Europe wished me to take for pay for services I did in saving the shade trees in front of Mr Porters house from being cut by the Waterbury Traction Co, who were agitating extend- ing their line past his house, The trees are in the highway. We recived news today that Clarance Gaylord Davenport son of the Rev Dr John G Davenport of the Second Congregational Church in this City, died of typhoid fever yesterday at Porto Rico, near Panci, [[yesterday]]. He was a member of Co.C. First United States VOlunteer engineers. He was 30 years old the 21st day of last April, He joined the Second church in 1884 {written over 3}, the same day that my wife and I did. 10\28\1898 (Friday) Yesterday and today the weather has been clear and fine. Worked hueing timber for Wm Purdy nine hours, this is the first hueing that I have done in years. {writing large--hands sore!} 10\29\1898 (Saturday) Cloudy all day, hued nine hours, Wm Purdy paid me $6.75 for the last 3 days work. Earnest Robinson had a daughter born to day, their second child. 10\30\1898 (Sunday) Stayed with Major Tucker last night, Read in Barbers History of Conn all the forenoon, and went to the Chapel this afternoon, Dr Anderson was to have preach- ed, but Earnest Robinson who went after him could not find him, so Hiram Able lead the meeting which was one of praise and song, and was very interesting. In the evening Agness Able took my horse and two seated wagon and carried Mrs Bryan (who lives in Watertown) to the City. 10\31\1898 (Monday) Worked hueing timber for Wm Purdy 9 hours to day 11\01\1898 (Tuesday) Went to East Mountain and hued timber for Wm Purdy Mr Frank Thompkins moved from the Pratt place on East Moun- tain to the tenement over Spenser Pierponts store on East Main St. Milan Northrop called today to get me to build a ice house for him. 11\02\1898 (Wednesday) Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours to day. Went to the Chapel this evening to the first supper of the season given by the ladies Union, they made about $9.00 Wm Clark began working for Purdy 11\03\1898 (Thursday) Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours Went to the Grange this evening 11\04\1898 (Friday) This day I worked framing timber for Wm Purdy. 11\05\1898 (Saturday) Worked for Wm Purdy. Todays paper said that they would have trains running on the Middletown Meriden and Water- bury Rail Road by Thanksgiving probably. the road has laid idle for the two or three years. 11\06\1898 (Sunday) [[Oct]] This morning was very rainy, had breakfast at 8.30 o'clock of bacon and fried oysters, after which I read the papers awhile, when Morris Alcott came to see if I would get a minister for the Chapel next Sunday, Then I put a lock and hinges on an old tool chest that used to belong to Grandfather Somers which Uncle Joe gave me, and which I intend to use, Called on Hiram Able this even- ing to see about letting him take my horse to draw sand with Tuesday. Went to see Mr Tucker in the evening, He returned from New York last Friday afternoon, While there he saw Mr ----- agent for the Judd Co. who purchases the nails made by the Mattatuck Co. He says that the Mattatuck Co has got to bust before long, and I hope it will, The Rev Mr Parry preached at the Chapel this afternoon. 11\07\1898 (Monday) [[Oct]] Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours. Went to Charles Cass this evening to see if he would be Grandpa in the entertainment to be given at Grange Hall the evening after Thanksgiving. {margin: 2.25} "He Said he would." 11\08\1898 (Tuesday) [[Oct]] This morning after breakfat I went to the Armory and voted for the candidates who were nom- inated on the Republican tacket, George E Lounsbury for Govern- or, also voted for Lieutenant Governor, Congressman, State Senetor, Representitaves Justices of the Peace, County Sheriff etc, Then went to work for Wm Purdy at {margin: 1.75} the Pratt place. Worked from 9 to 5 o'clock Went up to Mr Garrigus this evening. 11\09\1898 (Wednesday) [[Oct]] Worked at Purdys this day 9 hours, We learned that Lounsbury was elected Governor of Connecticut at yesterday election, Durant and Brett were elected Representatives over Cowell and O'Niel, Warren Hall was defeated, and Kennedy of Naugatuck was elected State {2.25} Senetor, It snowed a little this forenoon, the first of the season. 11\10\1898 (Thursday) This morning it looked like rain and I did not go to work. I hitched into the big wagon and went down to my shop and drew up three loads of wood when it rained so hard that I had to stop, after getting wet through, spent the rest of the day in putting things to rights {00} about home. 11\11\1898 (Friday) It has been very cold and windy today. Worked for William Purdy 9 hours. Charlie Hotchkiss and George {2.25} Cass, with Irving and myself practiced drumming this evening. 11\12\1898 (Saturday) The weather has been fine today. Worked for Wm Purdy nine hours; He paid me $13.50 which paid me {2.25} up to last Saturday night the 5th. Charlie Hotchkiss and George Cass {10.75} came this evening and we worked repairing drums. 11\13\1898 (Sunday) Did not sleep much last night owing to a hard cold, and to Pierpont who had the croup, after a breakfast of stewed oysters, I set a number of window glass and did other odd jobs, in the afternoon went to the Chapel and heard the Rev Joseph Anderson preach a notice of a meeting of the Ladies Union was read, to be held next Wednesday afternoon from 1.30 to 5 o'clock for work, supper is to be omitted. After supper went to see Mr Tucker, staid till nine o'clock and came home in the rain. The weather had been fine up to this time. 11\14\1898 (Monday) This morning at about 5 o'clock Margaret told us to look out of the West windows and see the fire, the sky in the direction of the City beyond Abrigador hill was all aglow and at times a blaze could be seen leaping up. It proved to be the barn of Mr Hot- chkiss on West Side hill. I worked for Mr Purdy 9 hours today. 11\15\1898 (Tuesday) Worked on East Mountain for Mr Purdy today putting up the fraim for the {2.25} new barn addittion and began cover- ing it, was there from 7 to 5. This morning Marice Reid awoke and thought that it was daylight on looking at the clock he saw that it was two o'clock, and on looking out the door saw that his barn was on fire, it burned to the ground, and two horses and two young cattle were also burned, the cause of the fire was unknown. Clarance Davenport, son of Rev John Davenport, of the Second Congregational Church, was buried this afternoon, with military honors, the body arived from Portorico where he died of the typhoid fever, last friday. Rev Joseph Anderson ^of this City and Rev Mr Foster of Boston preached the funeral sermons, in the Second Congregation- al Church, which was filled to over- flowing. Clarance was a member of the 1st U.S. Regt, of engineers, and is the second souldier who went from Waterbury and died in this war with Spain. 11\16\1898 (Wednesday) Worked on East Mountain for Wm Purdy 9 hours putting on covering. The Grange Fair opened tonight {2.25} the attendence was rather small consider- ing the number of tickets sold. 11\17\1898 (Thursday) Arose this morning at 5.30 o'clock, fed the horse 2 quarts of cracked corn and 2 of oats and a forkful of hay. Ate breakfast of Codfish balls after which I did odd jobs till 9 o'clock (it raining quite hard,) when I got ready and started for town stoped at my shop and shut down a window which the boys left open last saturday when they took the stoves out, carried the milk to Fathers, and stoped there a while, then went to take the trolley car at Silver Street, road to the center, for which Mr Tucker paid 5 cts. We got on at Silver street and paid both of our fares, First I went to George Minors Shoe Store and bought a pair of articks for which I paid $1.50 thence to Miller & Pecks dry good store and bought one skein of carpet thread for .05 cts, thence 5to Mr Roberts the truss maker and had him repair my truss so it would hold my rputure better, which took till noon, Paid 1.50, thence to Hotchkiss and Templetons hard ware store and bought a steel nail hammer for which I paid .60 cts thence to Dr Barbers office and ordered him to come to our house in the afternoon to see little Raymond who is sick with the croup. {margin, other handwriting: I remember how strange Ray looked in his white dress.} Rode out on the trolley car and got home at 12.30 had dinner of boiled long clams, after which I choped wood for a spell when the Doctor came, He found that Raymond was very sick with the Laringetis and thought that he must have the best of care. He wrote out a prescription and I wrode to town with him to have it put up, Went to H. W. Lakes, and got the medicine, while it was being put up I went to Currens drygood store and got two Shaker nightgowns for which I paid .50 cts, called at Lakes and got the medicine for which I paid .30 cts, rode home with Charlie Brown, on Pierponts Brothers heavy two horse team, Charlie Hotchkiss and George Cass came in the afternoon and we made arrangements for the enter- tainment at Grange Hall the evening after Thanksgiving, after they went Irving and I did the chores and we ate supper of Bread, cake, cold clams etc, after which I gave my attention to Raymond till 11 o'clock when I went to bed. Mary was to call me when she got tired, but did not and I slept till morning. 11\18\1898 (Friday) It rained very hard this morning and I did not go to work. Irving and I went to the shop and got a load of tools lumber etc, and brought home. The doctor called at about 10 o'clock, and found Raymond about the same as he was yesterday. Went to work at noon and worked till {1.00} 5 o'clock, at Purdys, Wm Purdy paid me off for last weeks work 10.75 came down to the Brass Mill and brought Father home when I came. When I got home I found Ramond very sick it began raining at about $6.30 and rained hard all the night I stayed up all night and attended to Raymond. 11\19\1898 (Saturday) It has rained hard all day, Worked about home, there is a slight improve- ment in Raymonds health, In the evening we went to Grange Hall to a rehersal for the entertainment next Friday evening. Those who are to take part in it are Charlie Cass {diff. hand: Grampa}, Mrs Adelbert Hitchcock, George Cass, Henry Cass, Charles Hotchkiss, Willie Garrigus, Arthur Pierpont, Harry Kilbourn, Joe Hucy, Bessie Garrigus, Annie Garrigus, Minnie Garrigus, Margaret Miller, Clara French, Bertha French, and Ida Spender. {other hand: I was the little girl who gave "Grandpa" his fife} The entertainment was and old Fashioned Thanksgiving supper, We got home at about 10.30 went to bed at 11 o'clock. Mary stayed up with Raymond. 11\20\1898 (Sunday) Today the weather has been fine. Went to the Chapel this afternoon and listened to a sermon by Rev Mr Howell of Simonsville, Called on Mr Tucker this evening, stayed till nine o'clock. He gave me some old shoes for the children and some illustrated papers of the Nations war ships, and heavy guns. He intends to start in the morning for New Boston Mass where he intends to stay during the winter. ((Monday)) 11\21\1898 (Monday) Worked to day for Wm Purdy, 9 hours, The weather has been fair. {2.25} 11\22\1898 (Tuesday) {2.25} The weather has been fine today, Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours. Had a rehersal at the Grange Hall this evening. Fifteen years ago this morning at 9 o'clock I and my wife were married, Bought a key of cider of Mr Bayley of East Moun- tain for .60 cts 5 galls. 11\23\1898 (Wednesday) {2.25} The weather has been nice to day Worked for Purdy 9 hours. 11\24\1898 (Thursday) This day is Thanksgiving. We got up a little before 7 o'clock, and Irving did the chores and Clyde and I went to drawing wood from the shop. After drawing two loads we had breakfast of stewed oysters, after which we drew wood till 10 o'clock after which we got ready and went to Uncle Dwight Somers in Simons- ville to the Somers family reunion. Clyde and I walked, and Mary, Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, and Raymond, wrode in the two seated wagon. They set the table in the Chapel, (Methodist) and 45 people sat down at about two o'clock. There were nine absent. The family consists of Uncle Dwight Somers and Aunt Emogene, and cousins Robert and Mary his wife, Joe and Lewis, Father and Mother, and brother Frank and wife Myself and wife, and children Clyde Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, and Raymond. Uncle Joe Somers, and aunt Fan, and Children, LIzzie, David and wife Etta, Josie, Myra, (George not there) and May, Uncle Goldsmith and aunt Christine and children, Jennie and husband Charles Phillips, (Willie not there) and Mary. Uncle Ben and (wife not here) Uncle Will and Aunt Ellen, and (Fred not there) Cousin Daivd Frisbie and wife And cousin Frank and Burt, Sister Mary and Roland Jenner, her husband, and children, Louise and [[Effel]] Ethol and Sisters Cara and Iva, There are Fifty four persons in all but nine were absent. Uncle Dwight was the older person aged 66 years and my Raymond was the youngest, aged 3 years, after supper they had singing and Recitations, after which Ice cream was served, after which we retired to Uncle Dwights house, and listened to some fine singing by three young people who were strangers to me, after which we came home in the same manner that we went. The snow lay on the ground to the depths of two inches, it having snowed all the afternoon 11\25\1898 (Friday) {2.25} Worked at Purdys 9 hours 11\26\1898 (Saturday) [[F]] The weather this morning was rather cold, but a little after noon it began to snow and continued snowing till night at six o'clock there lay on the ground about three inches. Went to work at Purdyes this morn- ing we put the weather boards on the barn, and shingled till the snow drove us off at about 4 o'clock worked about {2.12 1/2} 8 1/2 hours. 11\27\1898 (Sunday) Awoke this morning to find the wind blowing hard and the air full of snow with great drifts on the ground. We got up at about 8 o'clock and after digging out the out bildings and eating breakfast doing the chores etc, Clyde Irving and I hitched the horse into the old sled and went down to Fathers with the milk, we found great drifts but drove through them in going there. From Fathers we went to Ashtons corner and up the Meriden road where we had to dig through many of the drifts before we got to the Chapel. We stoped at Charlie Casses, and I told him that he might take my bob sleigh to peddle milk with, and he said that he would come down with me and get it. So we started home. Steve Pardee* {diff hand: *milk peddler} accompying us and Charlie was to come on with his horse we reached John Frenches and waited some time for Charlie. When he came we started on digging some of the time in the drifts till we reached Mr Ables when we left the road and went through his yard and through the fields to Mrs Doolittles lower barn where we again entered the road, and had a hard time getting to my house, some of the drifts being ten feet deep/ We went to my shop and got the sleigh after which we came home, the wind and snow still blowing. This has been the worst storm ever known in this vicinity within the rememberence of the older persons living, that has occured in November, the snow has fallen to the depth of two feet on the level. We have heard a great deal of whistling from factory whistles this forenoon the cause of which we do not know. Randolph and Clowes great roof of their Rooling mill fell in at one o'clock this morning from the weight of snow on it. I have heard some of the old people say that this roof was the first iron truss and iron covered roof put on in the United States, it was designed for a four pitch roof, but was subsiquent- ly changed for a gable roof, some had fears years ago that it would not stand, it was put on I think about 1860. At the time that the roof was put on Mr Thomas Payne who lived on East Mountain was killed, His death happened as follows, His son Martain Payne had the job of putting the roof on, and was there at work, Mr Thomas wishing to see him went to the building and had just stepped inside the door when a portion of the roof gave way and let fall a lot of lumber and iron which struck Mr Payne killing him. He and his wife had quarreled that morning, and when he started away she said she hoped he might be brought home dead, A few hours later as he was brought into the house, she remark- ed that, She was dam glad of it, {diff hand: shame!!} //temp end// 11\28\1898 (Monday) This morning the snow is piled in great drifts and the roads are everywhere blacked, It reminds me of the great storm of Mar 1888 when it snowed from four o,clock{o,clack!} Sunday night till the next Wednesday forenoon, the snow lying at an average depth of three and one half feet and drifts were piled in many places 12 and 14 fet high. Out near Shelton Hitchcock on the Meriden road there was a drift higher thatn the tops of the telegraph poles. I thought that I would try and make a pth through the Doolittle road and was getting ready when Hiram Able came and asked me if I would help dig out the road, I told him of my intentions{intentons!} at which he seemed pleased. We drove to the foot of the hill by the book and began to dig, and from thence it was continuous - to the lower barn a distance of nearly 1/4 of a mile and at one place through a drift ten feet deep. There was a clear place in front of the Doolittle house but at the upper barn a great drift began and it was digging most of the way to the brook near John Frenches house, it took till after four o'clock to get to Frenches Clyde, Irving, Walter Garrigus, Hiram Able, and myself in the forenoon, and all but Walter Garrigus in the afternoon. After we were dug through I gave Cla___{Clares?} and Bertha French, a ride on the horse sled through the drif_s{drifts?} to my house and my wife go_{got?} on the sled and road back to Mrs. Munsons, when we got home it was quit_{quite?} _ark{dark?}. {Notes in margin of text: I remember this day - We{he?} wore boy's pants - RMB There was no school M.H.} 11\29\1898 (Tuesday) This morning I started for work at East Mountain on the horse sled, But when I had crossed the long bridge at the head of the Brass Mill pond I found deep drifts all the way to the Prospect road, and no track beyond the Cass place. Irving who was with me, went ahead and picked out the best part of the road and wallered{wallowed?} through the drifts and I followed, we managed to get through without digging, and I got to work at 8 o'clock and worked till five. {Note in the margin at this line: 2.00} Clyde and Irving came after _e{me?} at five and we came home much easier than we went over. {Note in margin of text: School this day.} 11\30\{1898} (Wednesday) After breakfast this morning I started for East Mountain on the horse sled{slead!}, it was snowing very hard, had quite a time getting{gettin!} through the road that runs across the foot of East Mountain, there was no one there to help me and I did not work. Came home{,?} and carried irving to school going through the Doolittle road which I have driven through six times to day to keep it open, about 10 inches of snow fell last night ant today. Worked cutting wood most of the time to day. Wm Purdy paid me 6.00 this day. 12\01\1898 (Thursday) Went to work for Mr. purdy this morning, did not get there till 8.30 had a hard time getting through the mountain road. Worked puttin_{putting?} in the sleepers for the main floor. Wm Clark did not come as he had to open roads about the town of Prospect, He being first __lect man{Eelect man?}. This afternoon a trin with two locomotived{lolomotives!} and a snowplow pushed through the Meriden Waterbury and Corm{?} River Rail Road. They expect to start regular trains running next monday. Note in margin of text: 2.12 1/2 - crossed out 1.87 1/2 12\02\{1898} (Friday) The weather today has been fine for this time of year, Worked for Purdy 8 1/2 hours laying barn floor {Mathematical equation in margin of text} 12\03\{1898} (Saturday) Went to work for Purdy this day. Worked{Wokked!} 8 1/2 hr. On my way there I met Willie Strong near the watering trought and he asked me, Who anyon_{anyone?} should see to buy a lot of in the Pine Grove Cemetery and their cost etc, I afterwards learnes{learned?} that Mr. Barnes little{liftle!} child died this morning at 4 o clock this mornin_{morning?} of membrainous {membrainaus!} croup. Mr. Barnes is Mr. Strong's hired man, M Mr. Hart worked with me to day cutting and hauling{hawling1} sleepers for the horse __rn{barn?} floor, we also hired{?} eight of them. When Clyde and I were coming home tonight, as we were turning the cor_er{corner?} by Mr. Casse_{Casses?} we saw where _ome{some?} one{ane!} had been tiped out of a sleigh. We learned from George Cass who stoped the horse{shorse!} that it was a Mrs. leonard who lives on North Main Street who was going to Hiram Able's to see if she could hire a girl. The horse ran all the way from where Mr. _ass{Cass?} lives at the corner of the Prospect road to George Casses near the long bridge at Ha___{Harpers?} ferry, and Mrs. Leonard and her little girl ran after the horse till she say{saw?} George Cass putting the blanket on the horse through the deep drifts most of{af!} the way Miss Jennie Welton died last night at about 8 o clock, the particulars are as follows. She had been to James Porter's to see about some sewing to James Porter's to see about some sewing and had started home with a bundle of work. When just below my Father's house Gus Painter who was going to town with a horse and sleigh overtook her as she was staggering about he was trying to pass her When Will Gillette came along and saw her and told Painter that something was the matter with her, she told them her name and the number of the hose she lived in on{an!} East Main Street, they then took her in the sleight and carried her home but she died before they reached there Charlie Hotchkiss is working for D. G. Porter Arthur Blewitt having gone home on account of his father's death. Purdy Paid me $10.00 Note in margin of text: $10.00 12\04\1898 (Sunday) The weather to day has been fair and warm snow settled very much, it began raining at about 3.30 and rained hard when i went to bed. Went to the Chapel this afternoon {Next line difficult to read} Mr. Parry Preached The Chapel Committee approved the bill of M_ss{Miss?} Bessie Garrigus of 15.00 as organist{?} from May 1 to Dec 1, W also{We also?} approved the bill of Dexter Northrop for services as Janitor/janitor{?} of $10.00 When we came home we, mary, Irving Margaret, Ruth Pierpont, Vernon{Vernom!} Able, Florence{Fforence!} ABle and myself, rode home on the horse sled. 12\05\{1898} (Monday) It has been cloudy but has not stormed to day, Worked for Purdy 9 hr. Mr. Hart and Wm Clark worked there, Hart and I hueing{?} and fitting sleepers, and Clark making the cow stables. I suppose that the first trains run on the Meriden, Middletown, and Waterbury rail road to carry regular passengers. Note in margin of text: 225 12\06\{1898} (Tuesday) {December is crossed out} The weather to day has been fine for{fore!} this time of year. The first train that came in yesterday morning __{on?} the new Meriden Middletown and Waterbury Rail Road brought three passengers, they were Mort Pierpont, Howard and Clerence{Clarance?} Worden, three school boys who got on at East Farms. Worked for Purdy 9 hr Note in margin of text: 2.25 12\07\{1898} (Wednesday) Weather to day has been fine. Hiram Able had a son born to him and his wife this morning early. Worked for William Purdy 9 hours. Notes in margin of text: 2.25 Wilbur 12\08\{1898} (Thursday) The weather to day ha been clear and cool{coal!}. Worked for Purdy nine hours Mother Pierpont is 70 years old to day. Notes in margin of text: 2.25 Mathematical equation in margin of text 12\09\{1898} (Friday) The weather to day has been Cool, but clear most of the time. Worked for Purdy 9 hours Mary and I went to the Grange this evening. Note in margin of text: 2.25 12\10\{1898} (Saturday) Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours to day Note in margin of text: 2.25 12\11\1898 (Sunday) Went to ___{the?} Chapel and heard Mr. Rafter of the Waterville Episcopal{Episcapal!} Church preach. There was collected 2.21 which I gave to Mr. Able. 12\12\{1898} (Monday) It began snowing a little after dinner and snowed all the afternoon Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours He paid me today 11.00{?} which squares{squairs!} us up to a w__k{week?} ago last Saturday night 12\13\1898 (Tuesday) Got up at half past five, the weather was very cool, built the two fires called Irving, fed horse, and coon breakfast was ready had pancakes, started for work at half past six, drove to Purdy's on the horse{harse!} cled, about one and one half inches of snow fell during the night. Wm Clark and I worked finishing the horse stables. Pierpont came at 11.38 with a letter delivered by special delivery by the post boy{bay!} from Mr. Tucker who is in New Boston, Wanting me to see Fred Brainard in Southington and have him meet him in Winsted next Thursday evening about the insurance{inshurance!} on{an!} the old shear shop, I stoped work at noon, drove home and after getting [[Note in margin, presumably recording hours of work?? 1.25 {Is this 1.00 crossed out and 1.25 written on top of it?}]] warm, and eating dinner, started for Soughington in my spindle buggy. Went through east Farms and over the mountains at Hitchcocks Pond_{Ponds?}, the riding was cold and rough some of{af!} the way the old drifts were five feet deep, went through marion, to Mill dale{,?} _here{where?} I stoped at the brick shop{shap!} at D_ckermans{Dickermans?} corner and inquired for Brainard. They d rected{directed?} me East across{acass!} the Quinnapiac{?} River to Stillmans corner then thru, North till I reach an abandoned paper mill _hen{then?} go a little way and turn to the right and go through the lots to a little shop{,?} and I would find him, I went as directed and found him as directed, polishing bicicle{bycicle!} wrenches, _{I?} told hime what I had come{came!} for, and he said he would go. I drove home as soon as possible reaching there a li____{little?} after six very cold, the themometer regirstng{in the 1935-38 manuscripts, usually spelled regerstering} zero, at Nine it was six below The treaty of Peace between this Country and Spain were signed at Paris last Saturday evening at 8:45 o clock. The american signers were, Judge William, R Day, Senator{Senetor!} Crishman K{?} DAvis, Senator{Senetor!} Fry, Mr. Reid{Reed?} and Senator{Senetor!} George Grey. The Spanish signers were, Senor Mortero, Rias, Senor. Abarzuza{Alarzuza?}, Senor G__nica{Gurnica?}, Senor Vallauruti{?} and General Cerero Saens. [[There is a note in the margin of the text that indicates the paragraph that begins with "The Spanish signers ..." The note is the following: Red ink in Original LLD 5/17/89 {probably 1989, when xeroxed]] Each commissioner signed his opponents{oponents!} treaty. Both were tied with the Spanish and American Colars The treaty provides that Cuba is to be relinquished from Spain, and that Puerto Rico{Porto Rico!} and the Phillipine Islands are to be ceded to the United States. The U.S. are to pay for the repatriation of the Spanish troop_{troops?} from all the Colonies{Calanies?}. The Spanish are to return all prisoners held by them. They are to retain all military stores and munition of war in the Phillipines and such ships as have not been captured. I think that in the long run it would be better to have settled some other way than by annexing the Phillipines, The Nations of the East are jealous of us, and this act, wll{will?} add fuel to the smouldering fire that is burning which will some time break out and cause more trouble than it would if we had accepted a war indemnity, or even forced them to pay it. 12\14\1898 (Wednesday) This morning the thermometer{themometer!} stood at 14 degrees below zero. I got ready and went to town on the trolley went first to the Waterbury bank and had a twon order cashed for 5.60 after which I went to the central telephone station and telephones{teleplane_!} Mr. Tucker at New Boston Mass that Mr. Brainard and I would meet him{?} at the Winchester hotel in Winsted tomorrow afternoon for which I paid 25{?} cts. went thence{?} to the Select mans office and had my Military tax ab__ted{?} on account of disability{dishability!}, then came home, and ate dinner and went to work at Purdys{?} 3 1/2 hr. {Note in margin of text: .88} After supper went to th Chapel and had another{?} supper for which I paid 10 cts, went over to the Grange Hall to a poultry show, there were but few there paid 15 cts admissions, came back to the Chapel where the Entertainment was going on Mr. Rolph Blakeslce{?} was giving a Grapaphone Enterta_nueul{?} which was the best I ever heard. {New paragraph?} They also had some fine singing. Came home and arranged{arrainged!} a short discourse which I intend to give at the grange, and wrote this matter which took till midnight. 12\15\{1898} (Thursday) This morning after doing the barn chores, and some other regular work, I did up the horse's leg, which he calked in going to Southington. Then I had to hustle to get rady to go to Winsted, to see Mr. Tucker and a lawyer from Hartford, about the insurance on the Old Shear Shop{?} which burned Oct 19th 1896. I took the trolley car at East Main Street near Silver, and went to Waterville where I arrived at 11 O'clock, paid 05 ct fare. At 11.10 took steam cars for{far!} Tarrington, got there at 12. Went{Wen!} and got shaved for which I paid 10 cts, at One Oclock took th trolley cars for Winsted where I arrived at about two Oclock, got off at the Winchester Hotel, met Mr. Tucker at the door, Went across{acrass!} the street and met Fred Brainard in __{?} restaurant{restaurent!}, waited there, while M_{Mr.?} Tucker went to the Depot to meet his son Horace{Harace!} who was coming from the Cheshire Military Acadamy{Acadeniey!}. on a three weeks vacation. Went to mr. Tuckers room in the Winchester and waiter for Mr. Fullter{?} to come from Hartford. He arrived at a little after four, and Mr. Branard{?} told him all about the machinery{machnery!} in the old shop which took till six when we went to supper, in a spacious dining hall with a fine tile floor, a big Nigger sat the chair under me to sit down in and gave me lots of attention, as he did the rest, I hardly thought this necessary on my part, for I am only too glad to sit down without help if I can{cam!} get what is good to eat. First they brought on beefsteak and browned potatoes and onions, biscuits{buiscuits!} and butter coffee, next eggs and{an!} toast after cleaning most of the dishes o__{off?}, brought on other courses{carses!}, the most of which I have now forgotten, the last was, clear glass bowls{bowles!} _ith{with?} a little water in the bottom, served on china plates, for each of us. I wondered what these were, but soon saw Mr. Tullere{?} dip his fingers in his bowl and wipe them on his napkin{knapkin!}, I did not follow his example as I had not practiced and feared I might be awkward. After supper we went to Mr. Tuckers room and and{written twice} talked awhile{a whill!}, after which Mr. Tuller{?} and Tucker went to find a typewriter{typewritter!} to copy{coppy!} off his short hand, and Fred Brainard{?} and I took a walk out to West Winsted. After we returned, mr. Brainard and Fuller{?} went to their rooms, and Mr. Tucker and I staid together{to gather!}. {new paragraph?} We took a bath and went to bed. 12\16\1898 (Friday) Got up about Seven, Mr. Fuller Mr. Tucker and I had breakfast, Horace{Harace!} also, together{togather!}. Mr. Brainard had ate before us and had taken an early train for home, after breakfast I read over the testimony which I had given Mr. Fuller the evening before and which he had written out, after which Mr. Tucker and Fuller went to the barroom{?} and got a drink, as I have never tasted{taisted!} any drink stronger than cider I did not go, Mr. Fuller, Horace{Harice!}, and I, drove up to the Solders{Souldiers!} monument, where we had a fine view of Winsted and the adjoining country. The monument is a fine one, and the location grand. After we returned to the Hotel it was nearly time for my train, so I left the rest of the party and went to the Naugatuck depot where I bought my ticket for Waterbury for which I paid 75 cts, took the cars and in due time reached Waterbury, where I took the trolley and arrived{arived!} home at noon. AFter dinner drew wood from the shop which was portions{partions?} of the ld burned shear factory. {New paragraph?} In the evening went to the Grang Mrs. Weeks died Wednesday in Wolcott, aged 78, she lived on{one?} mile South of the Center, at the foot of the hill near the Fair grounds. Julinia Hall of Woodtick fell from a haymow in her barn yesterday and fever{feaver!} has set in and now{nou!} she is very sick. 12\17\1898 (Saturday) Went to work this morning for wm Purdy, worked 9 hours. Mr. Larmon Johnson{?} died this morning in the 93rd year of her age, She lived the third house East of here on the south side of the road. {Note in margin of text: 2.25} This evening went to see Hiram Able and paid _im{him?} $1.60 which I received{recived!} from the Town for his pay for helping to dig out the Doolittle road, after the Great storm, Agness{?} wished me to clean and repair her melodian, and I went at it and did not get through till after 11,o'clock 12\18\{1898} (Sunday) The weather to day has been fine. Went to Chapel this afternoon, Mr. Bassett of the Farm Street Methodist Church preached. Collected 2.21 which I carried and gave to Agness to give t_{to!} her father Hiram Able. {Note in the margin of text: Chapel} 12\19\{1898} (Monday) Worked for Wm Purcy this day, 9 hours, the Weather has been fine but it looks{tooks!} like storm tonight. Mrs. Johnson was buried this afternoon from Mill Plain Chapel The Rev M {blank space in text} officiated and Edward Welton{?}, Wilson{Wilsan!} Pierpont, John French, and Charles Monroe{?} were Pall bearers. {Notes in margin of text: 2.25 Chapel} 12\20\{1898} (Tuesday) It was very stormy this day, did not go to work till 8 O,clock. {Note in margin of text: 2.00} 12\21\{1898} (Wednesday) Wormed for Wm Purdy on his barns 8 1/2 hours to day. {Note in margin of text: 2.12 1/2} There was an entertainment given in the Grange Hall at Prospect this evening, entitled "the Comrades" {new paragraph?} This morning when I went to work this morning I saw George Cass and he wanted to go and have all go that could, so when I got home this evening I fixed two seats on the old _ring{pring?} and sent Clyde{Clyd!} to see if Agness Able{?} would go with us, She would, Mary, Clyde, Agness and Myself went on the pring, Charlie Hotchkiss took Bertha French, Arthur Pierpont took Bessie Garrigus and George Cass did not go, He had to work getting ice for the Mill Plain Ice Co. We had a good time and the play was nice, the attendance{attendence!} filled the hall. About Prospect Center the trees were heavily{heavly!} ladened with ice, got home and went to bed at one Oclock. 12\22\{1898} (Thursday) Spent this forenoon in cutting pices of printed matter from a pile of news papers I have saved and pasting{paisting!} them in my scrap book Went to work a_{at?} Purdys at noon and worked four hours {Note in margin of text: 1.00} Went to the Grange this evening, had election of Officer. {New paragraph?} The following were elected Master Arden H Coe, Overseer John Gallagher, Lecturer Arthur Pierpont Treasurer John R S Tood{?}, Chaplain David G Porter{?}, Steward Harry Coe, Assistant Steward Adelbert Hitchcock Secretary Anna Hale Cerics Girtrude Bradley {next line is difficult to read} Pomana{?} Mr. John Gallagher{?} Flora, Mrs. Thomas Fairclough. Outside Gatekeeper Joe Huey Lady assistant Steward Edith Pierpont Executive Committe John Gallagher{?} It rained very hard when we came home at midnight 12\23\{1898} (Friday) Did not get up this morning till Seven Oclock, and went to work at 9 worked throught the noon hour till 5 O'clock, came home and ate dinner and Supper together{togather!}. Charlie Hotchkiss came over druymming and Irving{?} and I took our drums and we marched to John Frenches it being very hard marching over the snow drifts and rough road. Came{word difficult to read} home at eleven. {Note in margin of text: 2.25} 12\24\{1898} (Saturday) Worked about home all day, began digging for the foundation of my new blacksmith shop down near the brook {New paragraph?} In the evening George Cass came and we set his drum head. 12\25\{1898} (Sunday) This is Christmas day the Children were up early and had a happy time taking the presents from their stockings{?} Went to the Chapel this afternoon the REv Mr{?} Davenport preached {new paragraph?} Brother Fred was there with his wife having come{came!} from Detroit yesterday, he was noticed quite a little on{an!} account of his fine bass singing. 12\26\{1898} (Monday) This day hs been observed as Christmas. All of the Miller FAmily met at Fathers there were 22 who sat down to dinner. In the evening we had a tree which was much enjoyed by the children 12\27\1898 (Tuesday) The weather has been fair to day but rather cold. This evening Mary Irving{Iirving!} Agness Able and Myself went to Woodtick to an entertainment which was given in the Chapel there {new paragraph?} Had a fine time, reached house and went to bed at 11 Oclock. Wm Purdy Paid Clyde 2.50 on account{accout!} {next line difficult to read} for me. {Note in margin of text, difficult to read: 2.50{?}} 12\28\1898 (Wednesday) The weather to day has been very cold, worked most of the day digging for the foundation of my Blacksmith shop. This evening went to the Chapel to the supper given by the Ladies{Laidies!} Union, mary and all of the children attended, and had supper there. 12\29\{1898} (Thursday) Worked to day 7 hours on the watertrough{watertraugh?} at east farms repairing the pipes. 12\30\1898 (Friday) To day Clyde, Irving and I worked 7 hours on the watering trough at East Farms. 14 hours @{?} .25=3.50 Material .50=4.00 12\31\1898 (Saturday) Arose this morning at SEven O'clock it being cloudy was quite dark, did the barn chores before breakfast, ate breakfast of boiled beef and potatoes at eight the{then?} cut fire wood till about 10.30 when we set about making a forge to shoe the horse with in the new building, we took a barrel and sowed off the top end down about 6 inches then filled it with sand to within 6 inches of the top and set in a ducks nest tuyer{tire?} iron with the pipe projecting through the bunghole of the barrell, then attached a Roots Rotery{Rotary?} blower, had it nearly completed at dinner time, at dinner at 12 of. Beef pie and clam chowder, and rice pudding{,? text hard to read} after dinner finished the forge and sharpened the horse by which time it was hailing and snowing quite hard. Clyde, F Pierpan_{Pierpont?} and I went to town to get some groceries First went to my shop after a maple plank but had to move so much lumber to get it that we could wait no longer, So we went to the Waterbury Lumber Co to see if I could sell them a lot of plank thence to the City Lumber & Coal Co but could not sell an_{any?},{?} so we went to the City Fish Market where we bought a pint of opened oysters for 15 cts and some crackers for .08{08?} cts per pound, thence to Heaters Grocery store where we bought several bundles of groceries, thence to Spencer & Pierponts feed store and bought a bag of meal for .95 cts and then home, Irving and I did the chores, then had supper of stewed oysters, after which I picked the feathers off a duck, and then read in 4th vol, of Washington Irvings life of Washington. This is the last day of the year, on looking back twelve monts{months?} I recall many reverses, but hope the next year will prove more prosper___{prosperous? word difficult to read} Charles Somers Miller Journal Entries for 1899 01\01\1899 (Sunday) New years day Commenced the year by getting up at half past eight, the weather being very cold and snow still falling. Built the two fires and then, Clyde, Irving, and myself dug out the paths and did the chores, after which we ate breakfast of baked beans, after which we hitched the horse in the sled{slead!} and the Boys and I drove to Munsons corner and back to make a path, after that I set a steel trap in a shallow box of bran in the cellar under the potato bin for rats, and in a little while caught{cought!} one. Then got ready and Ruth, Pierpont, and Margaret went to Sunday school{written as 1 word}, and Mary and I went to the service. Mr. Parry preached, there were but thirty four present, there are settings{sittings?} for about One Hundred and forty in the Chapel. Mary rode home with Mr. Worden{?}, and I walked home, by way of the Doolittle road, gave Agness Able $1.00 which was collected to give to her father, as we came by her house she looked at the thermometer{thermameter!} and it stood 8 degrees above zero when I got home mine{myne!} was at zero it is now 7 below at half past eight. 01\02\1899 (Monday) At seven o'clock the thermometer{thermameter!} stood at 20 degrees below zero. After breakfast of baked duck, we run the washing machine after which I measured the height{hight!} of all the children, Raymand{?} was 3 ft 3 1/2 in tall Frank Pierpont, 3' 9", Ruth 4' 3" Margaret 4' 6", Irving 4' 9", and Clyde 5' 7" inches, they have all grown over two inches since last new years. Went down to the shop and got out some plank to have some sled runners{?} sawed out of, and brought home a load of fire wood, Mary and Clyde went to town this afternoon to get some clothes for Clyde to wear to school tomorrow, Irving and I dug a ditch down in the swamp, after{aftere!} which we did the chores Clyde and mary coming in the meantime, and had supper of hasty{?} pudding and molasses, after{aftere!} which I made some molasses candy. At twelve o'clock yesterday{yester day?} the United States flag was unfurled over Cuba It now floats over the wreck of the Battle ship Maines. 01\03\1899 (Tuesday) Went to East Mountain this forenoon to see Miles Payne{text difficult to read} about some work he wanted me to do. In the afternoon repaired a wolf roab{?}, Wilson Pierpont called and wanted me to put a draw{drow?} bar in his horse sled, I went to work at it and had it finished before work {???} night, for which I charged 90 cts 01\04\{1899} (Wednesday) Went to work in the dark this morning{?} for Thomas M Paynes{?} Worked _ll{till?} noon when I had to stop on account of the rain. {note in margin of text: 5 hr} 01\05\{1899} (Thursday) This day the ground has been very wet, worked about home all day. {New paragraph?} Figured up and found that I had done Eighty nine dollars and ninety eight cents worth of work for William Purdy on his ba_n{barn?} of which he owed me 27.24 now. Mary and Irving went to town this afternoon in the spindle buckboard. Mary and I went to the Grange{Grandge?} this evening, there were but few there about 18 {New paragraph?} Chas Cass is very sick with appendicitis{a pendicitas!} his wife is also sick as is Arthur Pierpont and many others, with the Grip. 01\06\1899 (Friday) It has rained most of the day and at the present is raining hard. I have staid a{at?} home, and worked at odd jobs. The whole family is sick more or less with the grip. 01\07\{1899} (Saturday) Everything was frozen up this morning the weather having grown cold during the night. After doing the chores Clyde and I went to town I to the Barbers shop and had my hair cut and was shaved for which I paid 30 cts.{.?} Clyde bought oysters and crackers, also went to the Apothacaries hall and bought a little vaseline{vasalene!} bottle full of shellack{?} for which he paid 20 cts, came home and hitched into the horse sled, and carried Mrs. Hesplelts{?} sewing machine home which I had repaired. Went by way of the Meriden road and stoped and saw Charlie Cass. He is a little better, his wife Tracy is also sick with a complication of diseases{deseases!} in the same bed with him, she is better also. After leaving the sewingmachine{1 word?} went to my old shop and drew a sled load of bolts home, got stuck at the foot of the hill and had to unload part of them, and go back and get them. Drew another load this afternoon. Fred and Addie lef_{left?} for Detroit this forenoon at 10.50 expect to reach there at noon tomorrow. Mary is sick with the Grip and it is hard for her to get around. 01\08\{1899} (Sunday) Staid home all day, except that I went to he Chapel and heard Rev Mr Rafter preach. {new paragraph?} There was collected $1.20 Wrote a letter to Mr. Tucker at New Boston Mass. 01\09\{1899} (Monday) Worked to day 9 hours for Miles Paynew on East Mountain, at making new doors{doars!}, and rep{?} doors for his blacksmith shop. {note in margin of text: 1.80} Wm Purdy Paid me 7.50 {new paragraph?} The Hall Upson Co began cutting ice with 20 men and 9 horses on the Brass Mill pond this morning. When I came home tonight they had cut over an acre of ice and got it in. The stearn{? word difficult to read} incline draws the ice into the houses very fast. 01\10\1899 (Tuesday) {1898 was written as the year} Got up this morning at 5 o'clock. The weather being quite cool, went to work for Thomas Miles Payne on East Mountain repairing his Blacksmith shop. Went to painting it at 3 O'clock, but the weather was so cold that I stoped at 4, working 8 1/2 hr. I helped{helpt!} build the shop 19 years ago, and I remember that William Pratt{?} the ownder said quite a little about painting it right away. Little did I think than that I would be painting it for the first time now. {note in margin of text: 1.70} When I got home the Thermometer{Themometer!} was at zero. I was very cold and glad to get by the fire. By appointment Robert Worden Morris Alcott and myself were to go to see <_{Mr.?} Parry of the First Baptist{Baptis!} church on Grand Street, about giving a lecture at the Chapel. I did not think that they would come on account of the cold. But at 6.30 Mr. Worden came from the East and Mr. Alcott from the North. I was just changing{chainging!} my clothes, as the Committee of the Ladies{Lades!} Union were to meet here tonight. Was ready in a few minutes and we drove to town in Mr. Wordens{wordens!} carriage; the horse traveled very fast, and I got very cold. Put the horse in Nortons.{.?} Livery stable, and we went to Dr. Parrys house on North Willow street. Found him in and he very pleantly{pleasantly?} arranged to give a lecture and stereoptican entertainment{entertainmint!} at the Chapel some future time. The State Grange are holding their meeting now in Waterbury in the City Hall it opens todya and continues till Thursday{?} afternoon. Came home and found Mrs. Worden Mrs. Alcott, Mrs. Thoedore Munson, and Agness Able making arrangements to give the Chapel Fair the 8th{8the!} and 9th of next month. They staid till 10 o'clock when they started fo_{for? home? word is smudged}, Clyde carried Mr. and Mrs. Alcott home in the buggy, it being very cold 4 below zero. 01\11\{1899} (Wednesday) Staid home all day, and in the house most of the time as it was too{to!} cold for me, the thermometer{thernometer!} has been below{blow!} the freezing point all day. Dr. Axtelle called to see James Porter who had the barn door fall on him and hurt his side. Mary, Clyde, and Irving have gone to the Chapel to the supper{scupper!} 01\12\{1899} (Thursday) This morning it was very cold and I did not go to work for Miles Payne till 10.30 worked painting his shop, 5 1/2 hr {Note in margin of text: 1.10} Drove home and found a letter from Father wanting me to come down and see him before he went down town to night {new paragraph?} Went and saw him. He told me that he thought he knew that I could get work at Rogers Bro's at Blacksmith and carpenter work Mary and I went to the Grange{Grang!} and saw ___{the? word difficult to read} installation of Officers, came home at 12.30 and went to bed. 01\13\{1899} (Friday) Did not go to work this morning as it rained and froze, worked about home all day. 01\14\{1899} (Saturday) Did not get up till seven o'clock this morning as I did not expect{?} to go to work as it was raining hard. {new paragraph?} Soon after I was up, T{F?} Miles Payne drove into the yard and wanted me to help him today. I told him that I would and he went{wen!} to town, and I ate my breakfast, then Clyde carried me up the mountain, I went to work on a buggy that ws{was?} there pretty well smashed. It seem that Henry Pullen who lives at Prospect center and works at the Mattatuck sho_{shop?},{,?} started for work this morning{mornind!} with his two daughters{doughters!}, but when they got to the top of the hill by the City Reservoir the front axle broke and started the colt which he was driving on a dead run, In going down the hill the girls were thrown out and soon after mr. Pullen let go the horse and was thrown to one side of the road, one{ane!} of the girls had her legs skinned some and all{?} were bruised{?}{,?} the horse had a bad cut on the hind leg, The horse continued on down the mountain and ran into Mr. Micacks{?} team and threw him and a man that was with him out hurting the man that was with Mr. Mycack, in the shoulder{shouldier!}, The horse ran to the watering trough down the mountain where he ran into a barbed wire fence and got entangeled and they caught him there. Mr. Payne and I repaired the two buggys{buggyes!} which were pretty{prety!} well smashed. Yesterday William Gillette went to Prospect to investigate the case of Mattie Woods a colored girl. It seems that a neighbor of Grant Wheeler, who lives at Gilletts Corner{?} whill{while?} passing his house, day before yesterday, was attracted by a colored{colosed!} girl waving{waiving!} her hand at the garrett window. She informed him that she was locked in the garrett and was very cold, that the Wheelers were in the habit of locking her up there every time they went away. {new paragraph?} The neighbor came to town and notified Constable William Gillette who is also a humane officer, and yesterday he went out to investigate. In the mean time the girl had escaped from the attic and found shelter at a neighbors{neighbars?} that night and the next morning he took her to David B. Hotchkiss'who is a justice-of-the-peace. There{Ther!} Constable{Constible!} Gillette and Sheriff Rigney{?} found her. Mr. Hotchkiss asked them if they wanted to see her as she was then, or as she was when she came there. They wanted to s_e{see?} her as she came, So the Women fixed her up in the same duds he had on{an!}, an old wornout mans shirt with{witte!} only sleve{?}, a dress made{maid!} of two old oat bags sewn{sewned!} together{togather!}, a pair of stockings without any feet and a pair of worn mens shoes with out laisings/lassings{lacings?}, she had no underclothing, {new paragraph?} Mattie Woods is 19 years old, and has been with the Wheelers three years. {new paragraph?} Her parents are dead and she was obtained{abtained!} through a New York agency{ggency!} from the south. For the last three weeks she has been obliged{obiged!} to sleep in the garrett without bed or clothin of any account, and on New Years night when the thermometer{themometer!} was 20 degrees below zero she froze{frove!} her hands. She has not been{ben!} allowed to go out of doors except to do errands about the farm. Mr. Gillette notifed State agent Thrall{?} of the Connecticut Humane society and he came here this morning and and{written twice} warrants{warrents!} were sworn out for the arrest of the Wheelers, charging them with assault and cruelty{creuelty!}. {new paragraph?} Worked 7 1/2 hr Payne paid me 7.00 {note in margin of text: 1.50} 01\15\1899 (Sunday) Went to th Chapel to day the Rev Mr. Hannon{?} of the first M.E. Church preached. 01\16\{1899} (Monday) This day worked for _iles{Miles!} Payne on the mountain painting his shop. 6 hr {note in margin of text: 1.20} 01\17\{1899} (Tuesday) Fine weather today. Worked for Miles Payne painting his shop 7 1/2 hr {note in margin of text} 1.50} 01\18\{1899} (Wednesday) This morning the weather was clear and old, most of the ground is bare, but in some places ___{the?} remnants of old drifts remain. After doing the chores, (did not get up till 7 o'clock) hitched up and started for prospect to attend the trial of Mr. Grant Wheeler and wife defendant{defendent!}, and Mattie Wood a colored girl 19 years of age Plaintiff It was tried in the Town hall under the Church, court{cort!} was called at 10.30. Justice Anderson, of this city presided and Judge Cowell _as{was?} for Mattie and Judge Lowe for the defendant{defendent!}. The charge was Cruelty and assault, The case was brought by William Gillette agent for the Connecticut humane society. The witnesses for the state were, Mr. and Mrs. John Marss{?}, Mr. George Talmage Mr. Minor Blackman, Mr. and Mrs. David B. Hotchkiss, Mr. George Mass, Mr. Moses{Mases!} Chandler, Mr. William Gillette. Most of the witnesses tried to evade the direct facts as they knew them, on account of neighborly relations, but all testified facts showing that Mattie Woods was cruelly treated by Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. When Mattie Wood took the stand she recited a tale{tail!} the most harrowing of anything I could imagine for a country like this. She had worked for the Wheelers three years coming there April 1st{?} 1896{?}, came from 8 miles west of Lynchburgh Va, worked 3 months to pay for her car fare here and then made an arrangement{arraingment!} with Mrs. Wheeler by which she was to receive{recive!} 6 dollars a month after, {new paragraph?} The next spring as sh_{she!} water some little chickens in a pan ___{one?} got in and was drowned, for which she was horsewhippe_{horsewhipped?} by Mr. Wheeler, afterward one{ane!} duck was drowned in the same manner for which she received{recived!} another horsewhipping. The next Christmas day she was put to digging a path from the house to the road, and her hands getting very cold she went into the house to war_{warm?} them, for which she was struck with a stick of wood and kiced{kicked?} out doors again by Mr. Wheeler. At another time she was bringing in wood from the pile and putting it into the barrel back of the stove where she happened to upset a pa_{pan?} of dough that was on a swing shelf back of the stove, for which she was struck with a stick of wood by Mrs. Wheeler and cut upon the head, which made her scream, and Mr. Wheeler tied a towel over her mouth for a gag. Several times when she was left alone in the house, Mrs. Wheeler locked{?} her in the kitchen, tied the outside door on the outside with a rope and locked the door leading to the diningroom with a key, nailed the windows down and sprinkled flour{flower!} on the window sills and tops to see if she disturbed them{theme?}. She ran away and went to town but Mr. Wheeler came after her and promised to pay her what was due and a few days after gave her $8.00 but before night borrowed{barrowed!} it back again, and in fact has never given her any money since. {new paragraph?} Since she has been there she has had $6.00{$16.00?} cash 1 dress which cost 1.00 one{ane!} that cost 1.16 and Mrs. Wheeler{wheeler!} charged 1.00 each for making one pair of shoes which cost{cast!} 1.00 one{ane!} pair which cost 1.50, one pair of stockings which cost 12 cts, one pair mittens which cost .25 two rappers{?}, and t__{two?} hats, the price of which I have forgotten, and day before yesterday Mr. Wheeler went to Mr. Hotchkiss and force_{forced?} her to take $15.50 and give him a rec_pt{receipt? recipt?} in full for all wages due her. At one time Mrs. Wheeler went to Waterbury and l___{word is smudged} Mattie ironing and when she returned said that she had not{note!} done the ironing good and took the teakettle{teakittle!} of boiling water from the stove and poured{pored!} some of it _pon{upon?} her bare feet. At another time when she had been up to George Talmages house and returned Mr. Wheeler s_apped{snapped?} a revolver in her fact to frighten her. At another time she was sent up stairs and Mr. Wheeler wne tup with the oxwhip and whipped her till the blood flowed freely. As she was paring{pairing!} potatoes Mrs. Wheeler said she was not paring{pairing!} them thin enough and taking the butcher knife from the table struck at her, she raised her hand in defense{defence!} and her finger met the knife which cut a piece out of her little finger, which was still sore {new paragraph?} Mrs. Wheeler even denied{denighed!} her the privilege of winding a rag about it. She said that she had been whipped 5 times with the horse whip and three times ith an ox whip. She was allowed the food from he same table that the family ate for a spell at first after her food was of a courser{corser!} kind and after a time she was given course{corse!} meal wetted{?} up in a little pail with water and sent out into the back entry to eat it. At one time she asked for salt and Mrs. Wheeler told her that they only salted their cattle once a week {new paragraph?} Another, she was eating and Mrs. Wheeler called her little girl and told her to see the animal eat. _ast{Last?} Christman The Wheelers has company to dinner and had a bountiful supply of vituals, and they gave her a little pail full of oat meal wet up with water and sent her up stairs __{to?} eat it. The meal had been kept a long time and the rats had nested in it, and it was so full of rat leavings that she could only eat about two spoonfuls{stoonfulls!}. As she was washing a pan of turnip par____{parings?} stood on{an!} a shelf in reach,{,?} and she reached to get some to eat when Mr. Wheeler who was coming in with an armful{armfull!} of wood beat her over the head with a stick of appletree. She has been s_ut{shut?} _n{in?} the garrett 8 times all night since Christmas {new paragraph?} Mr. Wheeler taking her clothes from her and giving her a_{an?} old lettered{lettered?} blue skirt, there was _{a?} coff__{coffin?} in the garrett but no bed an_{and?} ___{word smudged} old army overco_t {overcost? overcoat?} that was ther_{there? word smudged} which she used Was taken from her, several nights the thermometer{themometer!} was below zero, and she froze her feet and fingers in consciquence{consequence?}, which{whch!} are now swollen and peeling{pealing!}. For over an hour she told her story on{an!} the direct examination, and for an hour and one half she withstood the most rigid cross examination that I ever heard and Judge Loure{?} failed to s_ake{shake?} her testimony in the l_ast{least?} It corresponded{carrosponded!} with the testimony{testomy!} of the witnesses exactly. The Wheelers live at Gilletts Corner and ar_{are?} I should judge{Judg!judg!} about 30 years of age, they have one child a little girl They were bou_d{bound?} over to the next turn of the Superior cort{court?} under b_nds{bonds? bands?} of $1400.00 each, which as furnished by, Byran Mass. and Mr. Hunter of Naugatuck. 01\19\{1899} (Thursday) Worked to day for Miles Payne pa__ting{painting? paniting!} his shop and putting supports under the floors. 5 1/2 hr Mary and I went to the Grange tonight. {Note in margin on text: 1.10 _ll{all?} 10.90 _er{?} 7 00 ________ 3 90} {the above note is difficult to read} 01\20\{1899} (Friday) Worked 5 hr to day for Miles Payne and finished painting his shop. {new paragraph?} The balance due was $4.90 he paid me 3.00 which left a balance of 1.90 now due me. Wm Purdy paid me 5.00 {Note in margin of text: 1.00} 01\21\{1899} (Saturday) Worked about home all day, the weather fine. Drew 6 loads of wood from the shop. 01\22\{1899} (Sunday) Weather warm and nice, went to the Chapel this afternoon, Dr. Davenport preached. 01\23\{1899} (Monday) The weather to day has been warm and nice, worked about home. This morning_{morning? mornings?} run the washing machine and then blasted out rocks. Went this evening and saw{sow!} Henry Buckingham about getting work at Rogers Bros factory. {new paragraph?} Then to Mr. Tuckers place and put two{tuo?} bolts on doors, visited with Chas Cass and family, and then came home. 01\24\{1899} (Tuesday) The weather has been warm and fair this forenoon, but it rained this afternoon and harder in the evening. Worked blasting rocks this forenoon and putting an{?} automatic feed on my drilling machin_{machine?} this afternoon. {new paragraph?} Miss Minnie Norton the school teacher, who is daughter to the late Rufus Norton of Wolcott{Woolcott!} came and staid here tonight. 01\25\{1899} (Wednesday) {Date written as 01\24\{1899} (Wednesday)} During the Night there was a severe thunder{thruder!} shower. The Lightning{Lightening!} was very sharp and the thunder very loud and continued a long{lang!} time The Church in Prospect was struck and all shattered so that it is not safe to go into, some{same!} say that __{text smudged} might just as well have been burned. Worked about home blasting rocks most of the day. Went to Rogere Bros a little after six o closk{o ctock!} to see Henry Buckingham about a job. Went to the Chapel to the Entertainment which was furnished by the young ladies They realized $6.00 01\26\{1899} (Thursday) Fine day, split{splite?} rocks{word smudged} most of the time Went to the Grange this evening. {new paragrapoh?} Mary paid our yearly dues $4.00 {new paragraph?} They had a debate, the question was, Resolved{"!}, that {"!} animals are of more use to mankind than metal, John Todd, and Willie Garrigus were on the affirmative{affermative!} side and Joe Hughey{Hugbey?} and myself on the negative, The negative beat by 5 point to two. 01\27\{1899} (Friday) This morning the weather was fine but before night it came off cold Went to Mr. Harry Garrigus and welded a set of inch and one eight{eighth?} axles{axlis!} on his carriage. 01\28\{1899} (Saturday) Went to Mr. Garrigus and worked till afternoon, then worked on _{a?} pattern for my drilling machine till six o clock, when Mr. Worden came and I went to town with him to see about getting entertainers fo_{for? faf!} the Chapel{?} Fair. Went first to Mr. John Lines to see if we could ges{?} his orchestra{archestra?}, He seemed very willing himself{himsilf!} and thought that the others would come, Went next to see Dr. Parry and he told us of a Mandolin{Mandilin!} club composed of young la_ies{ladies?} that belonged to his church, that he would see for us, from thence we went to Dr. Davdenports, and he told us of the Lourelli_{Lourellie? Lourellis?} Banjoe{Banjo?} club of young ladies hich he thought we might get, Then Went back to Field Street to see Mrs. Orsgood{?} to see if we could get her to help get a quartet{quartette!}, but she was out, so we went to see Dr. Graves who is Post{?} Surgeon here{word smudged},{,?} to get exempted from Military tax, but he was not i_{in?}. So we went to P.B. Nortons livery stable, were Mr. Worden left he team and drove home very fast the horse being a_{an? word smudged} extra fast one. 01\29\{1899} (Sunday) Went to the Chapel this afternoon Rev. Dr. Anderson of the first Congregational{?} Church preach__{preached? word smudged} Weather to day has been very c___{cold? word smudged},{,?} did not thaw any. 01\30\1899 (Monday) Very Cold this morning got up at seven, Went and carried Clyde to school at the Crosby Grammer school, and then went to Dr. F.G. Graves and had him examine me in regard to Military disability, which he did, and gave a certificate which was as follows Waterbury Conn Jan 30th{?} 1899 To the Selectmen of the Town of Waterbury, I certify that I have examined Charles S. Miller. of Waterbury and do hereby{here-by?} exempt him from Military duty under standard of disability prescribed by the Surgeon{Surgean!} General. His disability is double inguine hernia & deformed an_le{ankle?} and is permanent. F G Graves Post Surgeon New Haven County. {new paragraph?} Irving, Margaret, or Ruth, did not go to school, owing to their teachers going visiting schools, and Irving and I ran the washing machine, after which we repaired George Cass's bugg_{buggy?}, and then went to my s___{shop?} and brought home a load of truck from out of the garrett. {new paragraph?} After supper Clyde, Irving, Margaret and Ruth{?} went skating __{on? word smudged} Frosts pont{?}, staid till 9.30 oclock, Clyde went down to Fathers to stay tonight. 01\31\{1899} (Tuesday) Very Cold all day did not thaw, snowed a little this morning about an inch fell. {new paragraph?} Went to see Miles payne this afternoon and we went and looked over the Thomas Payne place which they are going to have fixed up. Saw Wm Purdy about his barn which he is thinking of having painted. Very cold this evening. Miles Paynes paid me 2.00 which pays me up in full to date 02\01\{1899} (Wednesday) Weather cold did not thaw about an inch of snow fell during the night. {new paragraph?} Wo_ked{Worked?} about home and drew stuff from the shop all day. Mary went soliciting about East Farms for the Chapel Fair. 02\02\{1899} (Thursday) {recprded as 02\03\{1899} (Thursday)!} Weather to day a little warmer. Staid about home all the forenoon. Drew a load of shafting, pulleys, and iron, from my shop and stored them in the garrett{garrelt!} and wood house this afternoon 02\03\{1899} (Friday) {recorded as 02\04\{1899} (Friday)!} Got up at 5.30 Weather warmer so that it thawed the forenoon, turned into rain and sleet about noon, this evening it is a genuine{genuwine!} ice storm as very slipery{slippery?}. Went to Henry Buckinghams this morning got there at 6.30 waited till near seven and went to Rogers Bros shopo{shops?} to see James Taben{?} the foreman{formean!} about getting work, He is to let me know in a few days whether{wheather!} they want me or not. Came{Caure!} home, had breakfast after which Pierpont, Ray and myself went to my sho_{shop?} and brought home a load of various articles, this forenoon {new paragraph?} Went again this afternoon and swept out the lower floor, and brought another load home. 02\04\{1899} (Saturday) This morning everything was coated with ice, and it was very slipery{slippery?} so it was hard to get about, it being not very cold it thawed so a team that was not very shar_{sharp?} could be driven about 11 oclock/o'clock{?}, about 9.30{?} Robert Hotchkiss came and we butchere our cow, which took till one o clock. He stayed{slayed!} to dinner, which as boiled cabbage{cabbaeg!}, potatoes, and cottage pudding, Agnes Able came while we were at dinn_r{dinner? word smudged}, to have Irving drive her about the neighborhood{nighborhood/nighbarhood!} in the bu__y{buggy? word smudged} to solicit{slicit!} for the coming Chape__{Chapel? word smudged} Fair. {Note in margin of text: Ruth & I remember this. He told Civil War stories.} During the afternoon Clyde and I went to my shop and finished sweeping it out __cept{except? word smudged} the Basement{Basment!} floor{floar!}. After which I went to visit James Porter who has not been out for a month {mark in text or punctuation?} or since his shoulder was hurt, then went down to see Father and mother, staid till seven then home. Wm Purdy paid me six dollars to day. 02\05\1899 (Sunday) Snowed quite hard till about 5 o'clock. Went to the Chapel, M_{Mr.?} Parry preached there was collected 1.24 From the Chapel Mary and I went to Mrs. Thaedore Munsons{?} to get information to have published in the Waterbury American tomorrow. Then we stoped at John Franches to see where I could find Murry Beeby, as I wanted to get word to him about the Chapel fair, then to Hiran{?} Able to see about getting the crash{cash?} to cover the Chapel carpet, then home. 02\06\{1899} (Monday) This day the weather has been cloudy{clowdy!} but rather warm, about 8 o clock to night it began{bgan!} snowing. Ran the washing{wahng!} machine for Mary till 9 o clock. Then hitched up old jack into the business wagon and drove to the American Office and had an Advertisement put in the paper and left a notice to be printed about the{"about the" is smudged} Chapel fair. From thence went to the Selectmens Office{?} at the City hall and had Mr. Perry Morris file a certificat{cirtificate!} which the Post{Past?} Examining Surgeon had given me exempting me from Military tax on{an!} account of disability{disibility!}. Thence to Chancy Ceeleys{?} Office on South Willow Street to see about getten{getting?} the carpet cover for the Chapel, he was not in but I ws told to go to his house No 85{?} Bishop Street at noon and I would find him, walked to my team which was hitched on{an!} South Elm Street, and then drove through North Elm Street and up North Main to Ed Holdens{?} store where I waited to see him when he came at noon, after 12 o clock h_{he?} came, and then I drove to Mr. Ceeleys house, he told me to meet him in front of D B{?} Wilsons, store on East Main STreet at quarter past one{ane!}, I was there and he came driving past very fast, di_{did?} not see me. I pursued{purseweed!} on foot and caught{cought!} him at Cannon and Websters{?} drug store on Bank STreet where he had stoped, he said that he had forgotten me, but would be back to Wilsons store in six minutes, he was there, and we went up in Mechanics hall and got the crash carpet cover, and I brought it home. After dinner went to Mrs. Munson_{Munsons?} to get the key to the Chapel, but she was away, then went{wen!} to Mr. Harry Garrigus to see about having Wilkie{Willie?} decorate the Chapel tomorrow{tomarrays!} evening with his bunting{?} and flags. {new paragraph?} Then went to see George Cass at the Mill Plain Ice Co.{. or ,?} and home and to supper Mr. Worden called and told me{?} that another banjo{banjoe!} club was coming to play at the Chapel. Mr. Newman is coming I told him, and he told me to have him be at 185{?} Grand Street at 7 o clock Thursday evening to ride out on the bus. Went to the Chapel adn Hiran Able{?} Maruce{Maurice?} Alcott clyde and irving and Wernon Able put the crash down. Mr. La Stone and Mr. Maton rented{?} my wagon shop today{to day?} for 15 dollars per month, to date from the 15 of Feb. {Note in margin of text: Rented Shope.{. or -?}} There was a severe battle fought{-?} at the Phillipines{Phillipenes!} Island Sunday_{?} it is reported in which {next few words are smudged} our lo__{loss?} is put at _75{175?} men. The Government has{hs!} given to the town of Cornwall one 8 in howitzer and 140 shells to be placed on or near the grave of Maj Gen John Sedgwick at Cornwall Hollow{?}. {new paragraph?} The Hon T.S. Gold{?}. M H Sedgwick and C L Gold of Cornwall and Mr. Stoeckel{?} of Norfolk have charge of the Memorial matter {Note in margin of text: Gen Sedgwicks Memorial} 02\07\{1899} (Tuesday) Snowed all day, was up to Chapel most of the day, also in the evening, putting up booths etc. for the fair. Began taking milk of Wilson Pierpont. {Note in margin of text; Milk} 02\08\{1899} (Wednesday) Snowed till about _{5?} O'clock this afternoon when it cleared off cold. Went to the Chapel this afternoon and helped sister Caro, Bertha French and Agniss{Agnes?} Able put up and trim their booths for the fair. Rob Hotchkiss came and cut up our beef. 02\09\{1899} (Thursday) The weather to day{to days!} was very Cold {new paragraph?} Choped wood{wodd!} this forenoon, and sent to the Chapel after dinner and started the fires up, after which I put _p{up?} the trimmings{trimings!?}, flags, bunting, evergreens etc. The fair in the evening was a success, the attendance{attendence!} large, considering the weather, had to stay and lock up aft__{after? text smudged} the rest had gone home and it was twelve o'clock before I got home. _{I?} froze one ear in going home, The{Then?} the thermometer{themometer!} was 12 degrees below zero when I went to bed. {new paragraph?} The Conecticut F______{Farmers? word smudged} Board of Agriculture held an Institute meeting at Grange Hall this day, the attendance was small. 02\10\{1899} (Friday) The thermometer{themometer!} stood at 12 below zero this morning at 7 o'clock when I got up I immediately wrote{:?} the following notice to be sent to the daily American to be published this evening There was a good attendance at the fair at Mill Plain Chapel last evening, notwithstanding the cold weather. {new paragraph?} The Chapel was handsomely{handsomly!} decorated{decarated!} with flags bunting and evergreens. {new paragraph?} The various booths for the sale of aprons, fancy work, ice cream, cake, and other articles were tastefully arranged and well patronized The supper was an excellent one, including chicken, cold meats, cake etc. The entertainment was a very pleasing one, of a musical nature, and the program was as follows, Selection by Young Ladies Uterpe club of the first Baptist Church; Piano solo Miss Conin; mandolin solo, Mr. Burrett accompanied by Miss Burrett; song Mr. Newman; mandolin selection Misses Crnonin, accompanied by Miss Garrity, and Mr. Derwin{?}, Uterpe Club, "Uncle Sams patrol," all were warmly applauded and responded to encores. A good time is promised to all tonight. Free busses will run to chapel. After breakfast of Porterhouse{Parterhouse!} steak choped fire wood, till noon; after dinner went to the Chapel and started the fires, and poped corn till evening ate supper in the Chapel, there was a goot attendance{word smudged} although the weather was very cold. {new paragraph?} Altogether{Altogather!} the Chapel realised about $105.00 from the fair. Came home at 12 o'clock the thermometer{themometer!} standing 10 degrees below zero. Earnest{Ernest?} Robinson notified the Chapel committee that he should not carry{cary!} the ministers from town to the Chapel after next Sunday. 02\11\1899 (Saturday) Got up at seven o'clock the weather very cold 10 below zero, at many places it was much lower, at Mr. Spen_ers{Spencers? word smudged} it was 18 below{bllow!} at 8.30 went to the Chapel and at work taking down the booths and bu-ting{bunting? word smudged} etc, after{apter!} _{a?, can't read word, is word crossed out?} little time Cara came, Miss Tatem the school teacher came a little --ter{later? word smudged}, then Mrs. Munson and Bertha Franch, _da{Ida?} Spender{?} and Agness Able came later, Clyde and Wernam Able carried the goods home with the team, and we had the Chapel cleaned and things in place at three oclock. While I was there yesterday Young Mr. Kenworthy from Benedict & Burnhams came to see if I would go there monday to work forging, in the place of Wallace Burgess who is sick. It snowed all day. 02\12\1899 (Sunday) Very cold all day thermometer{themometer!} was 1 below this morning, snowed most of the day this evening it is 4 below, {new paragraph?} Went to the Chapel there were 18 person{persons?} there, Mr. Rafter{?} of Waterville preached. 02\13\1899 (Monday) When I got up this morning ot quarter past five it was still snowing and the thermometer{themometer!} stood at 4 above zero. Ate breakfast of stewed beef potatoes etc and Clyde and I started for Benedict and Burnhams shop, via silver street and Washington street, got there at 25 minutes to seven, waited till Mr. Kenworthy came, and he took{tooke!} me to the machine shop and introduced to a Mr. Byers who took me to the blacksmith shop and introduced me to Mr. Kelly who set{sit?} me at work first making a lot of scratching machine tools then{thin?} at various other repair jobs, at noon went to Uncle Goldsmiths on Clay Street and had dinenr of boiled ham, potatoes, turnips, pie, crullers{?}, and coffee, at six o'clock found Clyde and Irving waiting for me at the corner of Washington Street with the horse sled.{;!} It had snowed hard all day and when we came to start home it snowed so hard and the wind blew se{so?} that we could not see, owing to the snow plastering ou{on?} our faces so that we could not see through it. {Note in margin of text: Went to Work at Benedict & Burnhams{Birnhams!} We could not drive anythere{anywhere?} only in the car tracks as the snow was so deep on the sides of the road. {new paragraph?} On the who-le{whole? word smudged} it was the worst storm I have seen since the great storm of 1888. 02\14\{1899} (Tuesday) This morning the snow lay on the ground about two and one half feet deep. Temperature{Tempature!} 6 above zero. Expected to go to work on the trolley cars and drove to the end of the at Silver Street, having to break our own path as it had drifted much during the night, but the cars were not running nor did they get ru__ing{running? word difficult to read} till about 4 O clock P.M. Returned home and went ot work breaking out the Doblitte{Doolittle?} road with the help of Mr. Andrews who helped 4 hr Mr. Able who worked 4 hr, Mr. Garrigus 2{?}, Clyd{Clyde?} 5 hr and Myself 5 hr some of it we had{?} to dig out 5 times as the high win_{wind?} filled it up. at noon, went to the trolley line to go to the shop, but the cars were not running{word hard to read} 02\15\{1899} (Wednesday) I never kew of but one morning that was as cold as this, the thermometer{themometer!} went down to 24 degrees below zero, but the weather has been warmer during the day than it has been before for several days. Expected to take the cars at Silver STreet to go to the shop but they were not running so I walked. Sm Purdy Paid Clyde 4.00 which he Clyde went after, he also got my tool chest at Miles Paynes. 02\16\1899 (Thursday) Got up a little after 5 o'clock, went to the end of the Trolley track on the pung{?} with Clyde but the car had just left so I stayed on the sled to Spensers store where Clyde was going after fe_d{feed?}, then walked ___{the?} rest of the way. Worked at forging all day, ate my dinner in the shop. Came home on the trolley cars there was a great crowd on the cars and the conductor did not collect my fare. Came ____{ucor?} getting stuck several times on account of the snow and ice on the track. Sister Iva got on at the corner of Mill Street, when we got to the end of the line at Silver street we found Clyde waiting with the sleigh and we rode home. Mary went tot eh Grange, this evening. Wrote to Hon T S Gold{?} about attending the dedication of Gen Sedgwicks memorial dedication at Cornwall{?}. 02\17\1899 (Friday) Drove to work this morning via Silver street and Washington. Weather a little foggy. Worked forging all day. Clyde met me on Washington Street and we drove home, it being very bad traveling{troveling!} on account of the snow drifts. 02\18\{1899} (Satruday) Weather this morning{,?} was warm and nice, Clyd{Clyde?} drove the horse to carry{cary!} me to work. Mr. Kenworthy told me to day that they would give me three dollars a day as that was what I asked, I think it very good pay for a new beginner in a new place. The factory closed at 5.30 and I started up Washington street to meet Clyde I was obliged to walk very slow on account of being very lame, met Clyde at the corner of Baldwing{Boldwin!} street, and we went to Irving black on East main street and left the crash which we had to cover the carpet at the Chapel fair. {new paragraph?} Then went to Hemingways fish market and Clyde bought 1 quart of oysters and three pounds of oyster crackers, From thence to heaters adn bought 4 lbs soda cracks at 8 cts per pound, then home, and very wet, it raining hard all of the time. 02\19\{1899} (Sunday) Got up this morning at 8 o'clock put two spokes in my buggy wheel, at_{ate?} breakfast of stewed oysters, after which I went to East Farms{Farmes!} to see Mr. Warden about meeting the minsiter at the end of the trolley line, from thence I went to mr. Burgers at Gilletts corner in Prospect, but he had gone to Cheshire to see Dr. meyers so came home. Got ready and went to the Chapel and heard Mr. Howell preach there was collected 1.41 The weather to day has been very warm the snow has melted and softened. 02\20\{1899} (Monday) The weather this day has been fine. Went to the shop and worked very hard all day This evening went to see mr. Edwin Welton who holds a mortgage{morgage!} of 870.00{?} dollars with{winth!} interest{-?} that amounts to over 1000.00 altogether{altogather?}, agreed to pay him the rent money, then went to see Mr. J. G. Janes{Jmaes?} about insuring it, He will insure{inshure?} it got 1000.00 for a premuim of 27.50{?} Came home very hungry and tired. 02\21\{1899} (Tuesday) Got up at 20 minutes past five, the boys and I got the barn chores before six, had breakfast and got started for the shop at 6.15 went down the old Cheshire road to Silver Street through Silver Street to Dublin, out Dublin to Washington through Washington to South Mains{?} where I go_{got?} out of the sleigh and irving drove home, _nd{and?} I went into the shop after leaving my check at the gate my check is __mber{number? word smudged} 830 The first work I did was to dress over some scratchers, for the overalling{?} machines, then dress over 36 hand scratchers Then temper 60 machine scratchers, then make and temper a number of machinists{machinests!} tools, then repair two punch bars for the casting, then hardened some hand scratchersand up a muffle rod for the Seamless{?} tube shop. Came home at six, had supper and went to see Robert Hotchkiss about salting{solting!} down our beef, then ____{home?} and wrote. 02\22\{1899} (Wednesday) Weather fine and warm snow softened to the bottom and troveling{?} very hard. Went tot eh shop worked all day after six went to Mr. Edwin Welton on L__iden{Leriden?} Street about Insuring my shop over and about paying the interest {new paragraph?} Carried him the Incurance policies{pollicies!} One of 500.00 on the New Hampshire Company and one of 500.00 on the _____ _____ Co. Came hgome and Clyde and I ate supper together{togather!} a_{as?} the rest of the folks have{word hard to read} gone the the {written twice} Chaptel supper. This is Washingtons birthday, is has been observed by the schools closing, and the flying of flags about the City and many of the public business places closed. 02\23\{1899} (Thursday) The weather to day has been very warm, Worked at Benedict and Buyrnhams, ten hours, went to the grange this evening. 02\24\{1899} (Friday) The weather to day has been a little cooler, Worked at Benedict _{&?} Burnhams. 02\25\{1899} (Saturday) The weather to day has been cold the mercury was 2 above zero, at 6.30 this morning. Worked till{tuill!} 5.30 at Benedict and Burnhams. 02\26\{1899} (Sunday) Got up this morning at 8 o'clock went to my shop at 9 to meet Mr. Larocque{?} and Mr. Edide Maston{?} but they were not there, so went down to Fathers and had breakfast after which Mr. Peter R. Larocque{?} came after me and we went up to the shop and they bought a lot of plank which came to 11.60 a lot of Wheels 12.00 and a wagon for 4.00, all came to 27.60 also 8 sets of tires at 1 1/4 cts, they are to pay for it later, Came home and got ready and went to Fathers adn got his horse and carriage and went to the trolley, and met the Rev. Dr. Davenport{?} and carried him to the Chapel, where he preached to an audience of 47 persons it being very stormy with sleet and rain. Took the team home and staid at Fathers till supper was over, and came home, getting very wet. 02\27\{1899} (Monday) Got up a little past five o'clock had breakfast at six and started for work at twenty minutes past, got to the shop at at {written twice} 10 minutes to seven, it rained all of the way. The water in the Naugatuck river has been quite high to day and lots of ice has come{came!} down. Pierpont took the horse down to the shop and had it shod, Clyde came after me tonight. 02\28\{1899} (Tuesday) This morning the weather was clear and cool. Went to the shop at the usual time and worked all day Received{Recived!} my pay for last weeks work which amounted to eighteen dollars, Clyde came after met at six and we went to see mr. J G Janes{James?} and paid him the b_lance{balance?} on the insurance on my shop except fifty cents which I am to send to him tomorrow by Clyde, then __{we?} went to M.J Loggs{?} store and bought a bag of flower{flour!}, for which we paid 60 cts, then started home. While coming down Cherry street we heard the fire alarm bell strike after which the alarm whistle blew soon a hack came along the horses __{on?} a dead run, then _ame{same?} a hose wagon and we __pt{kept?} along with it till we came to Tracys black{block?} which was on fire, we drove up Williams street and hitched the horse,{or;?} and went through the back yards __{to?} the rear of the block, where we had a fine view of the fire, they had two streams of water on the East side of it and two inside, there was one Steamer, two hose wagons, one hose cart,{or .?} and a large hook and ladder truck, soon they had the fire under control, and we came home. This is the last day of the month, and it bids{?} fair to storm tomorrow. 03\01\1899 (Wednesday) This first day of march has been very pleasant{plesant!} and warm. Worked all day at Benedict and Burnhams, Clyd{Clyde?} came after me this evening with the team, and we drove home. George Alexander brought a load of wood to day This evening Clyde, Irving, Margaret and Ruth went to the Chapel to rehearse{reharse!} for an entertainment which the young Ladies are to give 03\02\{1899} (Thursday) The weather to day has been warm and the snow disappeared very much. {new paragraph?} Worked at Benedict _{&?} Burnhams. {new paragraph?} This evening Mary and I went to see Hiram Able to make arrangements for Young mens Night at the Chapel, and also to tell him of his appointment{apointment!} as janitor of the Chapel. The Rev. Mr. Holden gave a Stereopitan{?} entertainment at the Grange this evening, for which they charged an admission of 10cts.{. or ,?} The Lecture was entitled Hawaii. 03\03\{1899} (Friday) Went to the shop as usual to day {new paragraph?} Spent the evening at home and went to bed at 10 o'clock. {03\04\1899} (Saturday) {Only "Saturday" was written in the margin to label the entry} The weather{wather!} to day has been wet and the traveling very muddy {new paragraph} Charlie Cass went to New York to St. Lukes hospital{hastital/hostital!} to have a surgical{sergical!} operation performed{preformed!} in the shape of removing apendicitis{a pendicitas!}. His wife Trace accompanied him We the children and the Ables, Frenches, Beckwith's, Spenders, and several others went to the Chapel to rehearse{reherse!} for an entertainment to be{he!} given some future time. 03\05\1899 (Sunday) Did not get up till 9 o'clock, as it was raining very hard. Spent most of the forenoon read___{reading? ready?} writing etc. Went this afternoon and saw{sow!} Morris{Marris!} Burger at Gillettes corners, found him very sick with inflamation{inflanation!} of the bladder, He thought that he would be able to go to work in two or three weeks. {new paragraph?} Dr. Parry{?} preached at the Chapel to day 03\06\{1899} (Monday) Worked at Benedict and Burnhams, 10 hours 03\07\{1899} (Tuesday) The weather to day has been very stormy, showed{showered?} hard. Clyd{Clyde?} Irving, Margaret, and Ruth, went to the Chapel to rehearse{reherse!} to{lo!} night but there was no one there. 03\08\{1899} (Wednesday) Weather to day was cold and fair. The Ladies Union had a supper and Entertainment at the Chapel this evening at which they cleared something over $7.00 03\09\{1899} (Thursday) The weather overhead has been fine to day, but I have not been up there, on the ground it was spashy{splashy? slushy?}. Mary has gone to the Grange. Clyde told me that Thomas Melbourn has moved to Beacon Falls and left his place, which is now for sale. 03\10\1899 (Friday) Worked to day at Benedict and Burnhams, blacksmithing. Bought a barrel{barrell!} of flour{flower!} off{of!} Thomas Kelley for 4.50 to day. Have worked very hard to day and as I am not accustomed{accostomed!} to tool-making and factory blacksmithing, and the others who I work with take care not to give me much information in regard to the work and my health is not very good, I am weary and tired tonight. 03\11\{1899} (Saturday) This evening I went to the Chapel at the request of Bertha French who has charge of the entertainment which is to be given next Tuesday evening,{,?} (but who is now very sick in bed), to help preserve order. 03\12\{1899} (Sunday) Did not get up very early this morning{norning!}. The weather has been warm and it has thawed, but very little snow is left, sent Irving to have George Cass and Charlie Hotchkiss come and get ready for the part they were to take in the Entertainment at the Chapel Tuesday evening {new paragraph?} Charlie Cass had an operation performed{preformed!} in the shape of his appendicitis{appendicitas!} being taken out, at St. Lukes Hospital at New York City. Went to the Chapel{Chapl!} this afternoon,{or . ?} But there was no service as the miniter was not met at the Trolley car. After Chapel went and saw John FRench about the Chapel supper which is to be given next week. 03\13\{1899} (Monday) The weather to day has been fine, the pleasantest{plesantest!} this year,{,?} so far. Went to the shop and worked all day. {new paragraph?} Received{Recived!} a letter this evening from Mr. Tucker who is in New Boston{?} Mass, which was sent to him from Gross, Hyde & Shipman, attorneys at law of hartford, which stated that they were going to have the Iinsurance{insurance?} case of the old shear shop assigned in the Waterbury Superior Court{Cort!} on the week of the 22nd of this month. There was a bad smash on the Highland division of the Consolidated Rail Road this side of Towantic{?} station yesterday{ysterday!} morning in which two men were killed and several injured,{, or .?} Two freight trains ran into each other head on on {written twice? an?} the top of a 80 ft embankment, and many of the cars rolled __wn{down?} to th_{the?} foot, and scattered the fr__gh{freight?} about. The Rail Road{Roaod!} Co hired all of the Farmers about there to hall{haul!} the greight back a distance of tow{two?} miles to a place where it could be loaded on the cars again. 03\14\{1899} (Tuesday) The weather today has been very nice but the mud is deep in some{?} places. At the factory yesterday we were told that Maurice Burger was coming to work next week, it was understood that I was {text is smudged?} to get through when he came; ___{text smudged} yesterday I was told that they wanted me to stay longer, and they were going to have three Blacksmiths, i.e. Charlie Kellie, Maurice Burger, and myself. Received{Recived!} my pay at the shop to day which amounted to $18.00 for last week Went to the Chapel this evening to the Entertainment which was given by the young ladies, it was a success every was although the attendance was not large. {Note in margin of text: Chapel} 03\15\1899 (Wednesday) The weather to day has been stormy most of the time, rain, hail, and sleet. {new paragraph?} Miss Minnie Norton the school teacher came here{hear? word smudged} and staid over night. 03\16\1899 (Thursday) The weather to day has been rather cool, and the traveling muddy. Went to the Grange this evening, but was so sleepy that I did not enjoy it very much. 03\17\{1899} (Friday) The weather to day has been cold and the roads very rought. A school meeting is called in this Saw Mill Plain district for to night to take some action against consolidating all of the school districts in the town. I did not attend as I am very tired and am in need of sleep To day is St. Patricks day and is ovserved by the Irish many of whom work at the factory where I do, they each wear a sprig of gre__{green?} or some other green emblem, but they do not know who St. Patrick{Patric!} was only that he was a great man who drove all the reptiles from Ireland. 03\18\1899 (Saturday) The weather has been very stormy, Sleet, and rain. This evening Clyde, Irving, Charlie Hotchkiss and myself{-?} went to Mr. Thoedor Munsons{?} and got a cook stove and put it in the cellar of the Chapel to __{be?} used at the supper to be given next{?} Wednesday evening, {new paragraph?} It rained very h___{hard?} and we did not get home till 9.30 o clock. 03\19\{1899} (Sunday) Mr. Bassett preached at Mill plain Chapel this afternoon. 03\20\{1899} (Monday) Worked to day at Benedict and Burnhams. This evening Charlie Hotchkiss, Clyde and I went to mrs. Munsons and got her stove and put it up in the Chapel cellar{cellear!}, to be used next Wednesday evening. 03\21\1899 (Tuesday) When I cam home from the shope this evening, we Clyde and I; went round by Mill Plain and finished{f_nisshed!} setting up the stove in teh Chapel. After which we came home __d{and?} after supper, Charlie Hotchkiss and George Cass came and we choped hask{?} for the supper at the Chapel tomorrow evening. A Letter came tonight from Gross Hyde and Shipman{?}, Attorneys in hartford notifying me to appear at the Superior court{cort!} to morrow{tommorrow?} morning at 10' o'clock{o clock?} as a witness at the trial of the{thi?} Orient Insurance Co against Barnard _{&?} Saw. 03\22\{1899} (Wednesday) This morning I went to the shop and shou_d{showed?} Mr. Byers{.?} the letter which I received{recived!} from _ross{Gross?}, Hyde and Shipman, and he told me that I could stay out, I came home and got ready and Irving drove the horse{.?} and carried C_yde{Clyde?} and I _own{down?} to Fathers and from there we walked in e rain to the trolley car and went{wen!} to the center, I went an{and?} bought{baught!} a pair of rubbers for which I paid 60 cts then went and had my _air{hair?} cut and shaved for which I paid .35 cts then to the Court{Cort!} house and the trial{tryal!} commenced{comenced!} I staid all day, and as they did not hear from Mr. Brainard, Mr. Hyde wanted me to go to Southington{Southingston?} and find him, Mr. Friller{?} gave me $10.00 and told me get him, I found Will Gillette and he said that he would go with me. We came out on the trolley car, and I went to the Chapel and got my supper, and Will went to Father's and got his, he then called for me at the Chapel and we started for Southington with Father{Father's?} horse. First we went to Henry Newell{Newells?} in Marion and he told us that Wall Dickerman could tell us where we could find Mr. Brainard, we stopped at Wall Dickermans and he told u_{us?} that we would find him at South end. We then went there and found that he is living with a Family named Ruande{?} on Elm{Elim?} Stree{Street?} in Meriden We then drove to to {written twice} Stillmans corner and Will took the trolley there and I kept on towards Meriden with the team,{,/} with the horse on a walk, Will reached Meriden and found Mr. Brainard and summonds him to appear in court{cort!} in the morning, he then started back on the trolley and met me on West Main Stree{Street!} in Meriden, we then started for home w_ich{which?} we reached at 2 o'clock A.M. wet and cold it having rain__{rained?} most of the way. The ground was covered with three inches of ice snow and at the to_{top?} of the Southington Mountain the trees{treees!} were laying, across the road broken and bent down with the weight of ice on them. 03\23\{1899} (Thursday) Did not get up this morning till eight o'clock,{, or ;} took the measurements of many of the timbers and lumber that was in the Old Shear Shop which was destroyed by fire on the evening of Oct _9{19?} 1896, and which timbers{?} and burnt stuff are now in my possession. Had breakfast adn started for town at quarter to nine, stopped at my shop and left a lease of the premises to Mr. Laroque and Mayton for five years, the Lease was dated Feb 15th 1899 and expires Feb 15 1904. Then went and took the trolley car at Wilver Street, after reaching town went to Jones and Morgan{?} and bought an umbrella of cousin Charlie Phillips for which I paid $1.18 then went to the Court{Cort!} House on Lenenworth Street which I reached at 10 O'clock, at which time the court{cort!} opened Mr. George E Judd was the first witness. He was followed I think by Mr. Henry. C.{?} Robinson of New York, who in turn gave his place to Han{Hon?} Frederick Kingsbury, then Mr. Thomas Porter of New York was called, then Mr. Robinson was recalled{recolled!}, after which it was dinner time and Mr. Tucker, Mr. Brainard, and myself went to the Franklin House and had dinner, after which we returned to the court and during the afternoon the testimony of Mr. Tracy and Mr. Robinson was taken, after which the court{cort!} adjourned{ajourned!} at 5 o'clock till next Thursday at 10 o'clock. Mr. Shipman gave me the plans and elevations of the old shear shop and I took them to Mr. Watson Hurlburt and ___t{left?} them there for him to figure an estimate of whate a building like the old one would cost. 03\24\{1899} (Friday) This morning went to work at Benedict and Burnhams. Mr. Burger whose{whoes!} place I am filling called to day and said that he __{is?} coming to work next monday. 03\25\{1899} (Saturday) The weather this morning was very nice, but it soone clouded{clowded!} in and{,?} tonight it began snowing. Charlie Hotchkiss, Clyde, Irving, Frank, and myself went to the Chape{Chapel?} and took down Mrs. Munsons stove and carried it home and set it up. {new paragraph?} Came home and ate supper after which Mary and I went to see Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, about the children, whom they say are troubeling their children, and who mr. Andrews has complained to the humane society. 03\26\{1899} (Sunday) Went to the Chapel this afternoon. {new paragraph?} Mr. Davenport preached, I took Fathers team and met him at the trolley car and carried him to the Chapell{Chapll!} and after service home. Mr. Frederick Upson{?} of Woodtick, died to day. 03\27\{1899} (Monday) Weather to day has been cool and traveling very muddy. Worked at Benedicts _(&?} Burnhams on an other fire, as Mr. Burger came back to work. This evening Mr. Hoggett{?} called and left a petition a_ainst{against?} consolidating{consolodating!} all of the school districts in the town, for me to sign and deliver to Wilson Pierpont to be given to Milan Northrop. Mr. Andrews borrowed my horse sled this evening. Mr. Coleman called on me to night with a friend and hinted that he would _ike{like?} to stay over night, but it was not very convenient to kee{keep?} him, he at one time lived on the Old Prospect road, but now lives in Northborupton{?} Mass. 03\28\1899 (Tuesday) It has rained almost all day and to night the wind blows hard. Received{Recived!} my Pay at Benedict & Burnhams $12.00 for 4 days 03\29\{1899} (Wednesday) Rained very hard last night. The Naugatuck river has been rising all day. {new paragraph?} Worked at Benedict and Burnhams, Mr. Byers told me that they would like me to stay and work next week. 03\30\{1899} (Thursday) This morning I took the trolley car and went to see Mr. Hurlburt at Mattatuck Street, aabout the estimate of the cost of the "Old Shear Shop." {. or ,?} he said that it would cost 10,500{?} dollars without the foundations, Mr. Tracy said it would cost $13,000 with foundation, Mr. Green Daolittle{Doolittle?} told me that he drew the check that paid for it, and it was {.?}$12,000 in 1873. Went to the Courthouse{Cort-house! 1 word?} at 10 o'clock and the case of Barnard Son & Co, via{nia?} Orient Insurance Co was called {new paragraph?} The first witness was George W Tucker, next myself, and then Fred Brainard of Meriden, the case was adjourned{ajourned!} at 2.30 to meet again at Winsted nest week Monday to hear the arguments and to finish. I ws{was?} then asked to go to the Scoville House with Mr. Shipman and Hyde will they settled{settlede!} with me, they gave me $10.00, with the $5.00 they gave me for going to Meriden, and the $10.00 they gave me in Winsted makes $25.00 in all they paid me. 03\31\1899 (Friday) This day is Fast day, nearly all of the factories are closed. Got up at seven o'clock and worked about home{house?} all day. The weather has been fine. Two of the Worden boys came and they an my children played hide and seek and yards-off. Brother Frank called this afternoon. This evening the woods on{an?} long hill and the Abrigador, were on fire. 04\01\1899 (Saturday) This is all fools day, and the children have{.?} enjoyed it in fooling every-body that they could. Worked at Benedict and Burnhams Mr. Kenworthy told me that they would like me to stay on eweek longer. 04\02\{1899} (Sunday) Rev. Mr. Parry preached at the Chapel to day. 04\03\{1899} (Monday) Worked all day at Benedict & Burnhams. Am not feeling well 04\04\{1899} (Tuesday) Mr. Andrews moved from the Jessie Doolittle place to Tom Melbourns place. 04\05\{1899 (Wednesday) Am Feeling somewhat better. The ladies Union had a supper at the Chapel this evening, Mary went, but I stayed home. 04\06\{1899} (Thursday) Mary and several of the Children went to the Grange hall this evening to an stereptean{?} exhibition on birds given by the Grange Lecturer. 04\07\{1899} (Friday) Worked at Benedict & Burnhams, Maurice Burger; did not feel well It is raining very hard this evening. 04\08\{1899} (Saturday) The Naugatuck River was midling high to day owing{awing!} to last nights rain. Large quantities of drift wood has{have?} floated down, besides many barrels{barrells!}, boxes, etc. 04\09\{1899} (Sunday) To day went to Fathers and got his team and went to the trolley car and met Dr. Anderson and carried him to the Chapel where he preached This evening George Edwards and wife and hatty called. Wrote a letter to major Tucker New Boston Mass, One to Malachi Gillette, South Norfolk, Conn{Carm.!} and one to Fred J Woods. 04\10\{1899} (Monday) This day I worked at Benedict & Burnhams {new paragraph?} Irving carried me down, and came after me at night Benedict and Burnhams require four large engines to drive its machinery {new paragraph?} They also have eight small engines located in different parts of the concern{?} to use when the large engines are not running. They keep fourteen horses in the barn, six of which they use on double teams, the rest{next? word hard to read} single, also they have a locomotive{lacomotive! lacomative!} which is in constant use. The different departments are. The Office department " Mill " " Seamless Tube " " Braised " " City " Heat Steam & Light " " Wire Mill " Shipping " " Yard " " Barn " 04\11\{1899} (Tuesday) The weather to day has been fine, the grass is turning green, and robins are singing in the trees 04\12\{1899} (Wednesday) This evening our family met at Fathers{Fatheres?} it being his 69 birthday we were all there except Clyde who was in Ansonia{?}, and Fred and wife 04\13\1899 (Thursday) This has been the finest day of the season so far, but I have been inside of the Blacksmith shop all day from seven this morning till six tonight, except about 10 minutes this noon,{, or .?} Clyde returned home from Ansonia where he went yesterday morning on a visit to Cousin Emma Drews{?}. Two months ago to day I went to work at Benedict and Burnhams, but ex pect{expect?} that they will not want me after next Saturday night. 04\14\{1899} (Friday) The weather to day has been nice and spring-like. This evening Miles Panne{Paune? Payne?} called and wanted me to go to work for him next week, if Benedicts, Charlie Hotchkiss and Howard Neil called to practice{practise!} drumming soon George Cass came and, we marched to Charlie Cass at M rjor Tuckers place, going up by way of the mattatuck shop, and coming back by Hyrams Ables. 04\15\1899 (Saturday) The weather to day has been fine. Mr. Byers came to me at the shop and said that they would like me to stay another week and work for them, I said that I would stay. Last night Thomas Miles Payne wished that I could come{came!} to work for him. Mr. Lo Rogue{?} paid me 15.00 one months rent Which was due on my shop. I called to night to see Mr. Fred Woods about settling{settleing!} an old account, but he was not in.{"?} I told the bookkeeper that {-?} I would call again next monday evening 04\16\{1899} (Sunday) I got up at about seven o'clock and worked about the yard for a while this morning. It commenced{?} to rain at about 7.45 and rained harder and harder till afternoon when it began snowing, and continued till night. Clyde has been in bed sick all day. Some of the children went to the Chapel this afternoon to _undayschool{Sundayschool? Text is smudged}. Mr. Hannan preached ruing the service. In the Evening Mrs. Thoedore{Thoedare!} Munson and Agness Able{?} called to see Mary about the next supper. {04\17\1899} (Monday) {Only "Monday" is written to label this entry} Worked to day at Benedict & Burnhams. The weather to day has been fine. It is reported that Charlie Monroe{?} and Mrs. Stark are married 04\18\{1899} (Tuesday) The weather to day has{word smudged?} been warm{warn!} and spring-like. Maurice Berger has been sick and did not work yesterday or today{1 word?}. 04\19\{1899} (Wednesday) The weather to day has been clear and warm although it looks like storm this evening{evenining!}. There was a dwelling house burned in South Brooklyn this afternoon {new paragraph?} I saw from the shop the Steamer and hose wagon also the Hook and Ladder truck as they crossed the Bank Street bridge. This evening I went to the Chapel toe the Supper and Entertainment given by the ladies Union, which is the last supper to be giv_{given?} this _eason{season?}. 04\20\{1899} (Thursday) Worked at B and B to day. Went to the Grange this evening. 04\21\{1899} (Friday) This morning I got up at 20 minutes past 5,o'clock, went to work at seven, {new paragraph?} Worked till twelve, ate my dinner in the shop, and at one went to work, and worked till six. The weather was wet this forenoon, but it cleared up this afternoon. This evening George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss, Howard Neil, Henry Buyckinghan{?}, and a man that I did not know came to d_____{dinner?}. 04\22\{1899} (Saturday) Elmer Pierponts wife died this afternoon, aged 38 years. The weather to day has been nice and warm. 04\23{24!}\{1899} (Sunday) The weather to day has been warm and nice. Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel,{, or .?} I carried him home with Fathers horse. 04\24{25!}\{1899} (Monday) The weather has been clear but rather cool to day. Maurice Berger has been to work to day. 04\25{26!}\{1899} (Tuesday) To day the weather has been warm and the roads very dusty. Went to the shop and worked till noon, Irving met me at the corner of Washington STreet at 12 o clock and brought me home, I ate dinner and got ready soon as possible, and Wilson Pierpont came and hitched into my two seated wagon{wagan!} and we went to Elmer Pierpotns house on Hospital{Haspital!} avenue to attend the funeral of his wife Lizzie who died last Saturday afternoon Mr. Hannah, Methodist minsiter attended, and the Pall bearers were Wilson Pierpont, __stin{Austin?}, and Charlie Pierpont and myself. {new paragraph?} They buried her in the Pine Grove Cemetery at Mill Plain In the evening Clyde and I went to the town clerks office to look the records in regard to Capt Phinias/Phileas{?} Castle who was an early settler at Hagpound{?}{,?} (East Farms) 04\26\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked at Benedict and Burnhams to day. Saw some boys in swimming in the Naugatuck River. 04\27\{1899} (Thursday) Worked at B and B, William Shanahan was out sick, he helped Maurice Burger, and helped me when Burger was out sick. 04\28\{1899} (Friday) There was a severe frost this morning and it was cold, worked at Benedict and Burnhams, Mr. Byers told me that the work is caught up and that they would not need me after tomorrow night {new paragraph?} But would like to have me come again when they are busy. Charlie Cass and his wife Tracy has{have?} move{moved?} from Mr. Tuckers, __{to? is this word crossed out?} the Doolittle place 04\29\1899 (Saturday) Got through working at Benedict and Burnhams to night. 04\30\1899 (Sunday) I went to day to Dr. Andersons{?} at No 144 Prospect Street _t{at?} half past two and carriee him to the{?} Mill Plain Chapel where he preached. {new paragraph?} The attendance{attendence!} was rather small. I heard tonight that William B{?} Pratt whose{whoes!} home was formly{formerly?} on East Mountain was drowned in Plymoth{?} last night while fishing He worked for me in 1892 at wagon woodworking. 05\01\{1899} (Monday) Went to work to day for Thomas M Payne on East Mountain. Made a heavy cart wheel with 2 1/2 spoke. This Evening Clydye and I plowed the East{Eeast!} garden There has{have?} been two alarms{arlarms!} of fire to day, one a little{two words?} before Seven this morning from the corner of Washington and South Main Streets, and one from the corner of Meadow and Bank Streets a little after 12 this noon. It is noining{raining?} now quite a little and thundering and lightening a good deal 9 o'clock P.M. Margarett{Margaret?}, Ruth and Irving went about the neightborhood this evening hanging May baskets{basketts! baskett! test difficult to read} an/on{?} the doors, but it came an{on?} to blow and rain so hard that they lost{last?} many of the flowers out of the baskets and then they came home{hoine?} 05\02\{1899} (Tuesday) This morning I went to work for Thomas Mils Payne, on East Mountain. This forenoon William{?} Purdy, and his wife, who was Jemie{? text difficult to read} Pratt, and Miss Libie Pratt, and Miles Payne and wife went Thomaston to attend the funeral of William{Willian!} Pratt who was drowned last Saturday night. I was left alone in the shop the rest of the day. 05\03\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked for Miles Payne to day. Plowed the North garden this morning and tonight. Bought of an agent, one Niagra, one Vergeunes{?} and one Warden grape vine for which I paid .50 cts 05\04\{1899} (Thursday) Worked for Miles Payne to day. Had Blyde go to Benedict &{?} Burnhams and get my pay $16.50 Went to the Grange tonight{1 word? text smudged?}. 05\05\1899{Friday) Worked to day for T Miles Payne{?}, on East Mountain, Repairing wagons {new paragraph?} Maurice Burgher{?} left word that they wanted me to come and work at Benedict and Burnhams, to morrow. 05\06\{1899} (Saturday) Worked for{fa!} Mr. Payne to day he paid me what he owed me 13.25 This evening Mary and I went to George Canners{Conners?} on West Side hild{hill?} to the celebration of their silver wedding. 05\07\{1899} (Sunday) Mr. Parry preached at the Chapel this afternoon. Went to Cheshire this afternoon with Mr. Tucker{?}. 05\08\{1899} (Monday) Went to work at Benedict & Burnhams to day. Mr. Burger was out sick. 05\09\{1899} (Tuesday) Worked at Benedict and Burnhams 05\10\1899 (Wednesday) Worked at Benedict and Burnhams This evening Clyde, Irving, Mary and Myself went out to East Farms to Arthur Pierponts to a dance in an addit__n{addition?} which he has built on to his South cow barn 30 x 40 ft There were about 75 present and all had a nice time. 05\11\{1899} (Thursday) Worked as usual to day, This evening Mary and I attended the Grange. 05\12\1899 (Friday) I worked to day at Benedict & Burnham_{Burnhams?} Brother Frank and Grissy his wife, William Gillette, and sister Iva started for North Goshen this morning to visit Cousin Malchi Gillette. The weather has been fine and clear. 05\13\{1899} (Saturday) The weather to day has been cloudy{?} in the forenoon and rained this afternoon, I worked at B. & B. 05\14\{1899} (Sunday) Clyde, Irving, Pierpont, Raymond, and myself went this morning out on the Southington mountain {new paragraph?} Staid home the rest of the day. Mr. Rafter of Waterville preached at the Chapel. 05\15\{1899} (Monday) The weather to day has been very cool.{.?} I worked at Benedict & Burnhams{?}. 05\16\1899 (Tuesday) Got up this morning at 2_{20?} minutes past 5 had breakfast and Irving drove the horse and we rode to the trolley car, which I took and went to Benedict and Burnhams,{,?} where I worked all day. Rode{Wrode!} home to night with maurice Burgher{?}. There has{have?} been two poliecemen!} appointed (Hickey and Brinkel) to ride on Bicycles{Bicicles!} to arrest scorchers{?} or fast riders who violate the law, which says that they must ride faster than ten miles an hour, within the City limits. They have arrested seven to day, but let then{them?} out on a bail of $50.00 05\17\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked at Benedict & Burnhams to ay. Last{Least?} night at about 8.30 I heard a noise that sounded like thunder under ground, I did not think much of it at the time, but I learn__{learned? word smudged} to day that it was an earthquake and was heard and felt in all of the towns about here, and along the Connecticut River, I{It?} was felt{?} in Hartford, Middletown, East Hampton, and as far South as Saybrook. The shock was so severe that it caused the dishes to rattle on the shelves in some houses, in Bristol it shook the plaster off from the ceilings of some of the houses. I{It?} was not as severe as the earth quake{2 words?} of 1884. {05\18\1899} (Thursday) {Only "Thursday" is written next to the entry} Went to work to day as usual. {new paragraph?} This evening Mary and I went to the Grange. 05\19\1899 (Friday) The weat_er{weather? text smudged} this morning was quite ool, at noon it rained some, bu cleared up before night. This forenoon we welded a large head of steel auto a{on?} steel arbor for the seamless tube department which{whhich!} was a herd{hard?} Job it weighed about 700 pounds and was bad steel to weld. This evening I went to see Miss Tatem the school teacher about the school but she was sick with the intermittint/intermittent{?} fever, came{?} home and drummed a while, then went to bed very tired as I got up a{at?} four this morning and had worked all of the time since. 05\20\1899 (Saturday) Worked at Benedict and Burnhams today {new paragraph?} This evening Clyde and I went to the Town clerks office to look up the records{reckords!} in regard to the place once{ance!} owned by Capt Phineas Castle, now he REsident of Mr. A.B. Pierpont. 05\21\{1899} (Sunday) This morning Judge Boughton and I went to the old Pryor place out on the Middlebury road and mr. Irving Prior{?} and I traced{traiced!} the old Continental road through the Continental{Cantinental!} lot and past{?} the old Capt Nichols place and on past the place where the last Indians lived in Waterbury, which place is about 100{?} rods North of the house where Mr. Arden H Coe lives. {new paragraph?} The Indians who lived there were he last remnant{remenenet!} of the Mel_eleck{Melmeleck?} tribe and they remained{remaned!} till about Fifty years ago. Mr. Hannah preached at the Chapel. 05\22\{1899} (Monday) Worked as usual. This evening Mary Clyde and I went to Mr. Garrigus to an entertainment given by the University extension class of Storrs College{Colleage!} 05\23\{1899} (Tuesday) Worked till 4 o'clock, When I left the shop and went to the City hall and met Clyde, and we went into the vault{valt!} in the Town Clerks office and searched the records{reckards!} 05\24\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked; This evening Mary and I went to the Chapel meeing and they elected new officers, for the Episcopal{Episcapal!} denomination Morris Alcott, Congregational{Cangrigational!} Warren Hitchcock, Methodist{Metoodst!} Willie Garrigus, Baptist Robert Warden, Sec Arthur Pierpont, Treasurer Hiram Able, Sunday School Superintendent{Superintindent!} J Henry Garrigus, Librarian{Libraran!} Henry Cass; Organist Inez Beckwith{?}. 05\25\{1899} (Thursday) {This entry is labelled 05\24\{1899} (Thursday)} Worked at Benedict & Burnhams to day. This evening Mary and I went to the Grange. 05\26\1899 (Friday) While working at Benedict and Burnhams this morning Mr. Byars{?} came and told me that they would have to "lay me off" for a while, as they did not have work enough to keep{keepe!} me, am to get through Saturday night. This evening{,?} Charlie Hotchkiss{?} and George Cass, came and practiced drumming. We decided to go to Cheshire and drum for the "Old Soldiers{Souldiers!}" on decoration day. 05\27\{1899} (Saturday) I got through working at Benedict & Burnhams to night, and Mr. Musse{?} paid me what was d__{due?}, 17.40. I wrote a letter to the Rev. Mr. Nichols of Cheshire telling him that a number of the boys would go over and drum, for the Old Veterans on Memorial day, Clyde carried the letter over, and Mr. Nichols told him that they were to have no parade in Cheshire, but that they were to have a march, speaking etc in Prospect, and told Clyde to go there and see Mr. Beers who lives near Prospect center, He rode there on his wheel and found Mr. Beers who seemed very much pleased to think that a drum Corps was coming. 05\28\1899 (Sunday) Got up at 7 o'clock, washed my harness and did other chores, had breakfast at 9 George Cass came to see aboutt going to Prospect to drum tuesday at 10, Irving and I hitched up and drove to Maruce Bergers{?} at Gilletts corners to see him about some carpenter work taht he spoke of having done yesterday, but he had decided not to do it, visited with him a while and then went to Prospect center and down the Rag Hollow Road to Mr. Beers but he had gone to Cheshire so I did not see him, left word there that we (the drummers would be on hand at 11.30 tuesday. {new paragraph?} Then drove East to Matthews{?} street and then turned North up said street till{tell!} we came to an old road that kept straight{strait!} ahead at the turn Southeast of Agustus Mass house, we went through the old road which was very rough and steep in some places and it brought us out at prospect station{statian!} on the Meriden Rail Road, we continued still north after crossing{crassing!} the tract and came out at the lower end of Rag hollow near the Old Gate house on the Plank road, we then drove home, and found Henry Buckingham{?} and Charlie Hotchkiss there to see me about going{gaing!} to Prospect to drum. I sent Henry Buckingham to Wolcott to notify Luke Henderson and Adelbert Norton, and I and Clyde went to Pine Grove Cemetery to place a flag on the grave of Mr. E L Pond{Pand?}, a veteran who died about two month ago, a committee{committiee!} of veterans{veteras!}, (Capt Bangs, Chancy Seeley Wm Melton and one whom I did not know) gave me the flag, we could not find the grave that we were sure was Mr. Ponds, so I stuck the flag in a newly made grave and, will find out tomorrow, which is his. Came home and found Aunt Tan Somers{?} and Cousin David there, who staid till it was quite dark, when we sat down to supper, after which George Cass Came, and staid a little while he said that Luke Henderson was going to Prospect, when he started home it was raining quite hard. Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel this afternoon. {new paragraph?} To bed at 9 o'clock. {No entry is labelled for 05\29\1899} 05\29{30!}\{1899} (Monday) The weather to day has been cloudy{clowdy!} and a little wet. I worked about home till 4 o clock. When Irving and I went to the Town Clerks office in the City Hall, and looked the records{reckoids!} in regard to the history of East Farms, and the vicinity{vacinity!}. {new paragraph?} Came home at 7.30 and Charlie Cass, George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss, irving and myself practiced drumming, and dirges{durges!}, for the memorial{memoral!} exercises tomorrow. 05\30{31!}\{1899} (Tuesday) This morning I got up at 5.30 got out the team and got ready to go to Prospect, Margaret, Ruth, Charlie Hotchkiss, Irving, and myself started in the two seated canopy top wagon and went to George Casses, and waited for him and nellie to get ready. {new paragraph?} We then drove to Prospect center, and put our teams out under the church sheds{sheads!}, and what there was of us "fell in," and marched to Mr. Beers house East of the Center, and reported for duty. We were told to wait till noon and then occassionally{accasionly!} marched round the green. The veterans arrived{arived!} to the number of about 15, and several others came from Cheshire, and we went into the Church and listened to an address by Judge George H Cowell of Waterbury and also by the Rev. Mr. Nichols, of Cheshire, late of Waterbury, also some fine singing by several young ladies of Prospect, and recitations. {new paragraph?} Out of a population of less than 500 men, women, and children, Prospect sent to the war 75 able bodied{bodyed!} soldiers{souldiers!}, this was more than any other town in the state sent, in proportion to its inhabitants. _fter{After?} the service in the Church we formed in the green in front, The Drum Band first, the{then?} the Veterans to the number{nunber!} of about 30 than about 20 sons of Veterans, the{then?} the School children from all parts of the town, each carrying bouquets and wreaths of flowers, and marched to the Cemetery to a Funeral dirge, there we marched from grave to grave of the dead soldiers{souldiers!} and placed flowers on each, the band playing "Safe in the arms of Jesus" after which we marched to the hall under the church were there was a bountiful colation served. A vote of thanks was given to the Drum Corps also to judge Cowell and Rev. Mr. Nichols, after supper we played out side, "Marching through Georgia" and "Old Dan Tucker"{?} after which we started for home. On the way we stopped at the Reservoir on east mountain and went to the boiling spring, which was of great interest to the others who had not seen it. We then came home, and to bed before 9 o'clock. 05{06!}\31{01!}\1899 (Wednesday) Remained at home all day, put up a vice in the carriage house and repaired George Cass_s{Casses?} buggy. In the evening Mary and I went to the Chapel to a meeting of the Sundayschool{1 word?} Officers and teachers. I also called on mr. Tucker. It was decided to hold a prayer{prgyer!} meeting in the Chapel next Sunday evening. 06\01\1899 (Thursday) Worked building a chicken yard to day. The weather was very warm. This evening Mary and I went to the Grange. 06\02\1899 (Friday) Finished the chicken yard to day. The afternoon went and visited the Mill Plain School {new paragraph?} Miss F May Tatem{?} teaches the primary room, my Pierpont and Ruth were there. The school was very orderly and the recitations good. Miss Minnie Norton teaches the hiher{higher?} grade, where Margaret and Irving attend, the lessons were well recited and the order very good. A little past 5 o'clock the Fire alarm{alarn!} gong sounded Number 14, which is corner of the Wolcott street and East main. The fire proved to be Fred Woods oil storage{storgge!} shed, at he Meriden Railroad Station I{It?} was Kerocene{Karocine!}, and gasoline and it soon all burned. 06\03\1899 (Saturday) This forenoon Clyde, Irving, and myself worked drawing{drowing!} stones from he North East corner of my lot to the foundation of the Blacksmith shop I am going to build by the brook on he Doolittle road. This afternoon I went to Robert Wordens{?} at East Farms and packed a pump{word hard to read} for him and repaired two gates, For which he paid me $1.00 which was the only dollar I have earned this week. 06\04\{1899} (Sunday) Went to the Chapel this afternoon Mr. Buckley preached. {new paragraph?} Mary and Clyde went to Trinity Church this evening, and saw Bishop Brewster confirm a class of sixteen members into the Episcopal faith among whom was Arthur and Mort Pierpont. 06\05\1899 (Monday) To day has been one of the hottest Helped Mary run the washing-machine{1 word or hyphenated?}, anc spent the rest of the day in writing Mrs. Hiram Able is 40 years old, and this evening, the neighbots to the number of about{alout!} 20 met at their house and congratulated them. 06\06\{1899} (Tuesday) Hot weather to day everi_____{everiry__y?} is suffering for want of rain. Painted the wagon house and port{part?} of the Barn. 06\07\1899 (Wednesday) The weather has been hotter than any day yet, till about 4 o'clock this afternoon, when a thunder shower went around North of us and it cooled the air very much. {new paragraph?} I worked painting all day, on my out buildings. This evening Mary and i went over to John Gallaghers to see him about the Flag raising exercises{excrcises!} that are to take place at the Grange. 06\08\1899 (Thursday) Got up at 5.30 this morning and after breakfast went to town to hear the case tried, "The City against John F Gallagher for violating the City ordinance{ordinence!} which requires milkmen to have a license. The court{courst!} was to be held in the new court house, but is put over till next Saturday. From thence I went to the Naugatuck Railroad Dep@ot and saw 35 new recruites{recrutes!} who had enlisted for three years, board the train, it was a sad sight, for some of the Mothers and sisters and sweethearts{sweethars!} were there and cried like children. {new paragraph?} There are to be hurried through to San- francisco and there take ship for Manilla. They are going in response{responce!} to the Presidents call for 35.000 men. {new paragraph?} After the train had left I got my team and drove to Bradley ville{1 word?}, To see Frank Howland, but he had gone to Oakville,{or .?} I drove there and found that he was surveying for Mr. Loren/Laren{?} Carter in the old deer Park, drove to Mr. Carters house and found that he was in the Center, Came to Mr. Carters office and found him. This evening Mary and I went to the Grange. 06\09\1899 (Friday) Weather very dry. Worked painting most of the day. 06\10{09!}\{1899} (Saturday) The Boys and I worked about home till about 5 o'clock, When I went to see Mr. James Porter about shingling the large barn at the Jessy Doolittle place, where Charlie Cass now lives Fifteen new recruites{recrutes!} left here this morning _________ ________ {word is underlined} for the Phillipines{Philipine!} Islands{Iislands!}, to serve 3 years. 06\11{10!}\{1899} (Sunday) Clyde and I with Irving went to the East Farms Cemetery and Started to make a map of it and a Record{Reckord!} of the persons who were buried there. Came home in time to go to the Chapel to the service, Mr. Parry of the Grand Street Baptist Church preached. 06\12\{1899} (Monday) This morning I hitched up the horse and went to James Porters at 9 o'clock and we went to A.L. Pecks, lumber yard on Meadow street to look at shingles. {new paragraph?} The cheapest they had were 3.25 per 1000 {new paragraph?} We also went to Tracy Brothers yard, and to The Waterbury Lumber Co's yard. {new paragraph?} The price was the same everywhere. {new paragraph?} So we came back and mr. Porter bought 6.500 hemlock{hemlack!} Shingles, from there we went Ladds grocery store on Grand Street, where Mr. Porter bought some groceries. We then went to a saloon{sbloon!} on Harrison alley and I sat in the wagon while he went into the "watercloset" he said, but he was gone a long time, and when he came out he felt good, I guess{gess!} he had had something good to drink. {new paragraph?} We then went to D.B. Wilsons store on East main STreet, and Mr. Porter bought some nails, then came home, I stoped at Mr. Porters and got his ladder, and took it to the Doolittle barn, and then ate my dinner. In the afternoon, I striped the roof of the old shingles and got some of the new ones. {Note in margin of text: 1/2 day.} 06\13\{1899} (Tuesday) Worked to day shingling Charlie{Chartie!} Casses arn. He helped me. {Note in margin of text: 10 hr{?}} 06\14\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked to day on Charlie Casse's barn. He helped me. {new paragraph?} Dexter Northrop died tonight at about 7.30 o clock. Went to town tonight to see Mr. Camp{?} about the mortgage{morgage!} on my house. 06\15\{1899} (Thursday) It was so hot that I only worked 6 hours, this was on Charlie Casses barn. Sent Mr. Camp my bill from Mr. Joseph Munder{?} deceased{deceised!} for last years Interest and my receipts{recipts!} for the same. 06\16\1899 (Friday) Yesterday was one of the hottest days ever known at this time of year. I worked shingling on Charlie Cass barn 8 hours. {Note in margin of text: 7 hr} This barn was built by Mr. Jessy Doolittle 60 years ago. Bur Chatfield{?} did the kewing{?} and joiner work and George Prichard{?} was his apprentice{apprintice!} it is a large barn 36 x 40 ft with 16 ft posts{pasts?}. I attended Dexter northrops funeral, he was 58 years of age {new paragraph?} He served three{th_ee!} years in the war in the 2nd Carm{?} Heavy __ {underlining from previous line} Artillery, was at the battle of Winchester, and at Appomottax{?} Court House when General{Genaral!} Lee Surrendered, he was also in many other battles. 06\17\{1899} (Saturday) Worked on the barn at Charlie Casses till noon. After dinnr went and saw Charlie Cass about repairing his barn pump and milk tank, after which I went to town, and took Pierpont with me. {new paragraph?} Went first to Hotchkiss & Templetons{?} hardware store and traded{traided!} a 1 5/8 shell reamer for a new scythe and .3{3?} lbs of 8d wire nails, also bought one foot of 4 1/2 inch leather belt for which I paid .35 cts, then went to Hemingways fish market and bough 1/2 peck of hard clams{?} for which I paid .30 cts, then to the Waterbury drug store and bought 2 sponges for which I paid .40 cts and 10 cts worth of saltpeter{saltpetre!}, from thence to Spencer and Pierpons and bought 1 bag of oats for which I paid 1.25 then to James Porters and reckoned the labor of shingling he barn, which amounted{announted!} to 10.75 and one bunch of shingles 1.15 which made 11.90 due me {Notes in margin of text: Next to "After dinner ..." 5 hr Next to "hardware store ..." 1899} 06\18\1899 (Sunday) This morning we got up at 7.30 o clock I roasted the 1/2 ___{lbs?} of clams in the fireplace in th cellar, and we had them for breakfast. {new paragraph?} About 10.30 Charlie Hotchkiss and and{written twice} got Rob Hotchkiss and went in search{serch!} of a _ailing{bailing?} spring, near the Meriden Road South of the house of mr. Griswold, we could not find it, so we went to Mr. Griswould{?} and visited a spell and _te{ate?} cherrys after which we came home, stopped on the way at John French, and Bertha gave us what chocolate{chockolate!} layer cake we could eat and had some nice water from their well. {new paragraph?} After supper of strawberry shortcake Mary and I went to East farms Cemetery and I finished making a map of the same, came home and to bed at 9.30 06\19\1899 (Monday) Helped Mary wash this{ihis!} morning, then set a tire on the buggy, and did odd jobs the est of the day. Received a check to dy from James Porter for 12.00 pay for work on Charles Casses barn. They had their School meeting at Eeast{?} Farm's last night, elected George Ben___{Benham?} Committee, Wilson Pierpont, Clerk. 06\20\1899 (Tuesday) Worked 4 hr at the Doolittle barn this forenoon repairing the sleepers under he floor. This afternoon worked for Mrs. Charles Frost weeding potatoes. 06\21\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost to day hoeing. This evening they had a strawberry festival at the Chapel there was a large number present. {new paragraph?} Mr. John Lines orchestra {?} furnished music. 06\22\{1899} (Thursday) Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost haying{?}. {new paragraph?} Went to th Grange this evening, They had a memorial service, The Rev. Mr. Buckley{?} spoke 06\23\1899 (Friday) Weather dry and hot, there is not hay scarcely, owing to the long draught{drauth!}. {new paragraph?} Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost. 06\24\{1899} (Saturday) The weather to day has been hot, about noon it began to thunder, and we worked very fast and got the hay up just in time so it did not get wet. It began raining at 4 o'clock, and rained till after night fall. Mrs. Frost paid me 7.60 for 2 days hoeing and 2 days and 3 hr haying, 15 cts per hr for hoeing and 20 for haying. 06\25\{1899} (Sunday) I_{It, "t" is written above text} has{hos!} rained some to day. It was childrens day at the Chapel and Mr. Devenport talked to the children Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lockhart had four children baptized. {new paragraph?} The attendance{attendence!} was large but not what it would have been had it not been for the rain. 06\26\{1899} (Monday) Worked to day for Mrs. Frost at mowing by hand. {new paragraph?} The weather has been cool and clear. {new paragraph?} This evening as we were at supper at 7.10 o clock there was a severe earthquake shock, which lasted about one minute and shook everything. Mr. Thoedore Munson{?} and wife, Hiran{Hiram?} Able and wife, Charlie Cass and wife, Albert Spender{?} and wife, myself and wife, Eddie Bronson and wife, and Miles Peck{?} & Agnes Able, went to Mr. Robert Wordens at East Farms. The occassion{occasion!} being his Forty first birth day{two words?}. {new paragraph?} We presented him with two light lap blankets. Had refreshments and Ice Cream, and came home at 11.30 06\27\1899 (Tuesday) To day "Buffalo Bill" (Col W.T. Cody{?},) Has been in Waterbury with his "Wild West and Congress of Rough riders of the World. {new paragraph?} The whole family went to town this forenoon and saw the street parade. {new paragraph?} This afternoon Clyde, Irving, Margaret, and myself went to the "Hop Meadows" wouth of the Electic car barns and saw the show. The programme consisted of 1 Overture; Star Spangled Banner, by Cow-boy Band 2 Grand Review; introducting the Rough Riders, of the world, Indians, Cow-Boys, Mexicans, Arabs, Scouts, Guides, and detachments of fully equipped Regular Soldiers of the armies{?} of America, England, Germany, and Russia, a color Guard of Cuban veterans, and a squad of Hawaiian, Porto{Puerto?} Rican{Ricon?} and Filipino{Phillipino?} Rough Riders, 3 Miss Annie oakley, a celebrated shot, who illustrated{illustriated!} her dexterity in shooting glass balls, from almost every position 4 Race of Races. Race between a Cow-boy, a Cossack{Cassack!}, a Mexican, an Arab, a Gaucho{Goucho!}, and an Indian. On Spanish-Mexican Bronco{Branco!}, Russian, Indain and Arabian horses. 5 U.S. Artillery Drill. By veterans of Capt Tharp's{Thorp's?} Battery D, Fifth Reg U S Artillery. 6 Illustrating{Illustriating!} a Prairie emegrant{?} tain crossing the plains, It is attacked by a band of Indians, who are in turn repulsed{ripulsed!} by "Buffalo Bill" and a number of scouts. 7 Pony Express.{,?} A former Post rider showed how dispatches{despatches!} were delivered on the plains, before the building of railroads{ailrodds!} and telegraph. 8 A group of Mexicans; who illustrated{illustriate_!} the use of the lasso. 9 The Battle of San Juan Hill. Introducting detachments of Roosevelt's Rough Riders, 24th infantry, 9th and 10th Cavalry, Grimes battery, Garcias Cubian scouts, Pack train, Etc. Scene 1 A halt{?} on the Road to San Juan, " 2 Storming of the hill, 10 A Group of Riffian{Ruffian?} Arab Horsemen{Horsman! Horseman?}, illustrated{illustriated!} their style{stile!} of horsemanship, together{togather!} with natiove sports and pasttimes{pastimes!}. 11 Johnny Baker, Celebrated American Marksman. 12 Cossacks{Cassacks?}, from the Cancassus/Concassus{?} of Russia, in feats of horsemanship native dances, Etc. 13 Gimkana Race. 14 Cow-Boy fun. Picking objects from the ground, lassoing wild horses, riding buckers, etc. 15 Indians, from the Sioux, Arrapahoe{?}, Brule{?} and Cheynne{Cheyenne?} tribes illustrated{illustriated!} the Indian mode of fighting etc. {Note in margin of previous page, page 186 of manuscript: I remember all of this vividly, I was 10. M.H.} 16 Military musical drill, by a detachmen_{detachment?} of the 16th Lancers (Queens{?} own) British army, and a detachment from the Garde Kurassiers{?} of his Majesty{Magest!} Kaiser Wilhelm II 17 Sirth{Sixth?} United States Cavalry, veterans rom Col Summers Reg at Ft Meyer Va. 18 Attack on the Deadwood Mail, coach by Indians. 19 Racing by Indian boys on bareback horses. 20 Three minutes with the Rough riders of the world. 21 "Buffalo Bill" om feates{fetes!} of sharpshooting while riding at full speed. 22 Buffalow{Buffalow!} Hunt, as it was in the far west, exhibiting{erhibiting!} a herd of buffalo. 23 Attack on settlers Ca_in{Cabin?}, by Indians 24 Salute by entire Company. 06\28\1899 (Wednesday) This morning the weather was damp, went to Mrs. Frosts and worked till 10 o'clock, when it began to rain. Then came home and worked repairing chairs and repairing the grave stone of Mrs. Rily Alcott{?} who died 1877 aged 90. {Note in margin of text: 3 hr} This evening went to the School meeting, and the following Officers were elected. Committee{Comittee!} Warren Hitchcock. Clerk, B. F. Hoggett{?}. Treasurer, Martin Pond, Collector James Stovelle, {new paragraph?} They also voted to lay a tax of 5 mills on the list of 1899. {new paragraph?} And also voted to build a fence around the back part of the yard. {new paragraph?} Mark Warner has been Committee man for the past 12 years, and fought hard for the election this time. He canvassed the district thoroughly, as did we of the Hitchcock factor. Warner had 16 votes, Hitchcock 21 votes Albert Spender 1 and Mark Pond 1. {new paragraph?} We hope to have a better School now. 06\29\1899 (Thursday) Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost at haying 7 hours. Mary and I went to the Grange this evening I read a portion of a paper, the title of which was, "The assistance the French rendered the American's during the war of Independence{Indipendenc!}, including the march of Rachambeans army, {"togather, with" has been crossed out} and historical facts concerning the route. 06\30\{1899} (Friday) Worked for Mrs. Frost. 07\01\{1899} (Saturday) Worked for Mrs. Frost hoeing and haying. Very hot weather. Received 8.00 for four days work. 07\02\{1899} (Sunday) The weather was very warm all day, went to the Chapel this afternoon. Dr. Parry of the Grand STreet Baptist Church preached. 07\03\1899 (Monday) To day we got in part of the barn meadow at Mrs. Frosts Mother started to day for Detroit Mich{?} to visit Fred, she has taken dvantage of the excersion{excurtion!} of the Society of Christian Endeavor{Endeveor!}, who hold a national convention there 07\04\1899 (Tuesday) To day is the Fourth{Forth!} of July the children were up before three o'clock, and were firing blank pistol cartridges, caps, torpedoes, firecrackers, etc, Etc, When I got up I fired off my old musket, which greatly interested the boys, as it made as much noise as a cannon that they had, in the evening we went to Thoedore Munsons where the neighbors were collected and fired off fireworks Etc, and had cake, icecream{1 word?}, and other refreshments. 07\05\1899 (Wednesday) Worked at Mrs. Frosts all day had a severe shower this afternoon This forenoon as I was mowing in the North East corner of the barn meadow, next to the Meriden road Dr. Freebourne came from the East in his new horseless{horsless!} wagon, he was going very fast and made the dust fly. {new paragraph?}* His is the first horseless{horsless!} wagon owned by anyone in Waterbury, and the second that was ever here. The first was in the parade of Forepanis{Forepauis?} circus last year, both run with gasoline{gasolene!} and have rubber pneumatic tires, Dr. Freebourne went from Waterbury center to Hitchcocks pond a distance of five miles in twenty-five minutes yesterday, and returned to day in fifteen{fiftein!} minutes. 07\06\1899 (Thursday) Worked at Mrs. Frosts nine hours to day. It rained this forenoon but in the afternoon it was hot. Mrs. Gilbert Duryeea{?} died early this morning aged{gged!} 70 years. She was formerly{formily!} Mrs. Thomas Harper, and her Maiden name was Julia Farrell, daughter of Benjamin. 07\07\{1899} (Friday) Weather threatened rain this forenoon, But came clear at noon and we got in most{mast!} of the hay that was out at Mrs. Frsosts, and I got throught to night after working 9 hours, they paid me $7.60{?} the amount due. Mother Pierpont came and mary and her wnet to Mrs. Duryeas funeral at Pine Grove cemetery. {new paragraph?} Mother Pierpont, and Mrs. Duryea{?} went to school together{togather!} at Saw Mill Plain, when they were girls. 07\08\1899 (Saturday) It has rained hard most all day, Clyde and I went out to Mr. J. H. Garrigus, in the South part of Wolcott and he wishes me to come and work for him next Monday, from thence we went to Woodtick and then home, and repaired Charlie Casses milk wagon in the afternoon. 07\09\1899 (Sunday) Went top the Chapel{Chaple!} this afternoon and heard Mr. Raft__{Raften? Rafter?} of the Waterville Episcopal church preach, after which we went to East Farms and carried Mother Pierpont home, and Mary and I went to the Cemetery and finished a record{reckard!} of the grave stone inscriptions, that I was making. 07\10\1899 (Monday) Went to work for J Henry Garrigus this morning haying. 07\11\{1899} (Tuesday) Worked to day at Jacob Henry Garrigus 07\12\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked this day at Henry Garrigus 07\13\{1899} (Thursday) Worked to day at J Henry Garrigus. This evening went to the Flag raising, and Childrens day exercises at the Grange Hall. {new paragraph?} D_{Dr.?} John G. Davenport made the address ad Miss Bessie Garrigus was the Goddess-of-Liberty and raised the flag. {new paragraph?} George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss, Irving, and myself{mysilf?} drummed and Charlie Cass, fifed. At the exercises in the hall the crowd was so great that all of the room was taken and many could not get in. 07\14\1899 (Friday) This morning I arose at 5 o'clock and worked in the Garden till six. Then started to work at Mr. Garrigus, The clock was{ws!} 15 minutes slow and I was at George Hitchcocks when the whistles blew for seven and buy{busy?} hurrying the horse got there a little late. Had dinner there, which consisted of string beans, peas{pease!}, canned salmon{samon!}, boiled potatoes, berries, tea, coffee, etc. This evening we finished haying and I got through, Mr. Garrigus paid me 5.00 and still owes me 3.75 07\15\{1899} (Saturday) This day the weather has been perfect; I worked in the garden, while Clyde went{wend!} down to james Porter's and milked his cow, and Irving drove Mr. Painters cow to pasture, after which we ate breakfast of scrambled eggs and cold boiled ham. {new paragraph?} We then hitched up and went to Jacob Henry Garrigus, and helped him hoe his musk and watemelons{one word or hyphenated?}, and Clyde helped him cultivate his potatoes, while Irving and I set out about 200 cabbage plants, which Mr. Garrigus said he would give me, together{togather!} with the ground to grou_{grous? grow?} them on, we finished at noon, and then ate dinner under an apple tree in the Aouth orchard. AFter dinner Frank, Irving and I, had William Garrigus cut our hair, after which we went to the Reservoir near Shelton Hitchcocks, and had a swim and then drove home, passing on our way a party of men who are preparing{prepairing!} to put up a telegraph line from New York to Boston. {new paragraph?} We got home and had supper of boiled peas, after which I{?} hoed in the garden a spell and then read he papers, and Mary and Irving went to town to buy a bag of oats, and a wash-boiler. 07\16\1899 (Sunday) To day it has rained in showers, and has been very warm. Went to the Chapel{Chaple!} this afternoon and heard the Rev. Mr. Bassett preach. 07\17\1899 (Monday) This day I worked about home this Forenoon, and in the afternoon went to Mother Pierpont's a__{and?} repaired the East door where the sill and jamb ___{bow? had?} rotted{ratted?} away. In the evening mary and I went to Simosbille and visited Uncle Dwight Somers{Samers?}, and I called on Mr. Kenworthy to see about work a{at?} Benedict & Burnhams, he said that the Blacksmiths were now caught up with their work nicely, but ff{if?} there was a man needed in a permanent{perminent!} place he would give me the chance. Mr. Tobin{?} of Rogers Brothers sent Henry Buckinham to see me to day, to have me call and see him about working at Rogers Brother's 07\18\1899 (Tuesday) This forenoon I wrent to ____ __ {entire word or words are smudged and difficult to read. "work at"?} Rogers Brothers Factory and saw Mr. Tolen{Tobin?} and made a bargain to go to work tomorrow at 2.00 per day to start with and my pay to be raised after a while three or four weeks. Spent the rest of the day in drawing stone for my blacksmith shop. 07\19\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked to day at Rogers Bros My first Job was, to oil up the shafting, Then I repaired an overhead{over-head?} trolley, then repaired a step ladder, then made a lot of belt holders, then made a key for a lock to my cubbard{cubbord!}, and repaired several, belts etc. Mr. Burgher stoped this morning and wanted me to go to work at Benedict & Burnhams. 07\20\{1899} (Thursday) Worked at Rogers Brothers factory to day. Mary and I went to the Grang{Grange?} this evening. 07\21\{1899} (Friday) Worked at Rogers Brothers factory 07\22\{1899} (Saturday) Worked at Rogers BRothers. {new paragraph?} This evening Irving and I went to town and I called on Dr. Davenport, he gave me a picture of himself to be hung in the Mill Plain Chapel, we then bought a rool{roll?} of picture wire at Hassi's{Hassis?} store on Grand Street, and one gallon{gallond!} of molasses at Heaters store on East Main{?} STreet 07\23\1899 (Sunday) It rained very hard during the night and thundered and lightened. {new paragraph?} This afternoon Mary and I went to the Chapel and heard Mr. Davenport preach. {new paragraph?} They have put a new heating furnace{furnice!} in the cellar of the Chapel{Chepal!} last week. 07\24\1899 (Monday) I worked at Rogers Brothers Factory to day {The label 07\25\{1899} (Tuesday) has been crossed out next to this entry. Further down in the margin is the date 07\26\{1899} (Wednesday). What date does this entry get? Is the entry one entry with the label 07\26\{1899} (Wednesday)?} Worked to day at Rogers Brothers Factory to day {new paragraph?} Received{Recived!} my pay $9.00 for 4 days work last week. {Is this next paragraph labelled 07\26\{1899} (Wednesday) Mr. Harry Garrigus called and left #3.75 the amount he owed me. 07\27\{1899} (Thursday) Went to the Shop as usual {new paragraph?} Mary and i went to the Grange this evening 07\28\{1899} (Friday) Worked at Rogrs Bros. 07\29\1899 (Saturday) Worked at Rogers Brothers as usual. 07\30\{1899} (Sunday) Stayed about home all day, except that we went to the Chapel this afternoon. 07\31\{1899} (Monday) Worked at Rogers Brothers factory to day, from 7 o clock to 12.30 and from 1 P.M. to 5.30. 08\01\{1899} (Tuesday) Worked at Rogers Brothers factory to day. 08\02\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked as usual to day. Mother came home from Detroit Mick, to day, got to town at 8 o'cloc{o'clock?} {new paragraph?} The Mill Plain Sunday School held their annual picnic at the house of J.H. Garrigus to day, all of my family attended except myself, there were present about 200 people, and they had a good time. 08\03\1899 (Thursday) Worked at Rogers Brothers to day This evening Mary and I attended the Grang{Grange?}. 08\04\{1899} (Friday) Worked as usual {new paragraph?} This evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps met for practice at Luke Hendersons house __{in?} Wolcott Clyde, Irving and myself went up in the Canopy top wagon, and carried the BAss drum also Howard Neils, George Atkinson's, and Irvings and mine, we drummed{drumbed!} nearly all of the way up. {new paragraph?} There were present, Adelbert Nortou, Howard Neil, who walked out Gardener hall, who walked out, Henry Buckinghan{Buckingham?}, who rode his wheel out, Georg Atlkinson, who came on his wheel, Charlie Cass who drove out, and Charlie Hotchkiss and George Cass, who drove out, besides Clyde Irving and myself. After drumming and marching till after 9 30{930?} o clock we went into the hous_{house?} and had cake and ice-cream, after which we came home, atopping on the way at John Frenches and we George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss, Clyde, Irving, and myself, marched round and round the house, till we got the girls up, got home at 12 o'clock. 08\05\1899 (Saturday) I worked to day at Rogers Brothers factory, got out at 4.30 and came home and worked laying stone wall till near dark, when I had to stop on account of my lame foot troubling{troubleing!} me, the pain being very great. 08\06\1899 (Sunday) Got up at 8 o'clock, had breakfast of beef soup and watermelon, after which I wrote 5 letters, then read the papers till 1 O'clock{o'clock!} when I got ready and went to teh Chapel __{an? and?} heard Mr. R.A. Collins preach, he came from Cheshire. After Chapel service mary and I went to Mr. Henry Garrigus and took supper there, we had baked beans, canned{caned!} salmon{samon!}, bread, potatoes etc. {new paragraph?} Sar Mrs. Lucian Upson{?} who is a real daughter of the REvolution {should there be a "," at the end of the previous line} that is, Her Father who was Levi Johnson of Wolcott{Woolcott!} was a soldier of the REvolutionary army. After hearing Miss Bessy play on the Piano, we came home, saw where the town are repairing the ZMeriden road from Munsons corner East For the purpose of building a bycible{bicicle!} path. This Evening mary and Irving went to the Chapel to a Prayer meeting When Clyde came home after goint to Arthur Pierponts after milk for Charlie Cass, he told us that he did not think that J J Byan{?} could live till morning, as he has had a bad day. 08\07\1899 (Monday) Got up this morning at 5 o'clock, and called Clyde and Irving and we went to work laying the stone wall, till half past 6 o clock when I went to the shop. {new paragraph?} Clyde has worked to day at James Porters cutting brush. {new paragraph?} After I got home tonight we worked on the wall again till dark. There was an awful{auful!} accident on the new trolley line that was opened last Thursday, between Stratfor and Shelton yesterday afternoon in which 29 people were killed, and a number wounded. The trolley car jumped the track on a trestle at Pecks Mills three miles north of Stratford, and fell 68 feet into the mud at the bottom{botton!} of the pond which was 7 ft deep, the water had been drawn{?} off to permit the building of the trestle. {new paragraph?} This was the worst accident I ever heard of about here happening on a railroad. 08\08\1899 (Tuesday) Worked at Rogers Brothers as usual. 08\09\{1899} (Wednesday) This day I received{recived!} my pay from Rogers Bros 13.50 for last weeks work 08\10\{1899} (Thursday) Worked at the factory to day. {new paragraph?} This evening Mary and I went to the Grange, there were 54 members present, the whole membership is about 140. 08\11\1899 (Friday) Worked at the International Silver Company's, factory on Silver street. {new paragraph?} Factory J is the name of Rogers Brothers plant, since it has been purchased{purcheased!} by he International Silver Co, some six months ago. This evening the drummers met here and after practicint{practiceng?} a while we marched into the house, and into the large room, where several ladies and children were assembled and had lemonade cake etc, and a good time generally. 08\12\{1899} (Saturday) Worked as usual, weather very hot. Mrs. Jennie{"Jennie" was inserted} Russell of Worcester went away this after noon. 08\13\1899 (Sunday) This forenoon the weather was very hot. Did not get up this morning until 8.30 o clock, had breakfast of roasted{rocasted!} round clams after which I read till nearly noon, when I got ready and at three went to the Chapel.{./} Rev. Dr. Rooland{?} preached, the attendance{attendence!} was not large. This afternoon I wrote a letter to Perry C Morris{?} First Slectman{Setectman!}, about the town paying the tuition{tution!} for Clyde and Irving going to the High school this coming{corning!} winter. Also wrote a letter to Brother Fred in Detroit, and another to the Rev. A G Hubbard of Woodstock Conn{?}, ordering a history of the town of Goshen, Conn. 08\14\1899 (Monday) Today my foot has pained me very much. Weather has been nice and cool. Worked as usual at Rogers Bros, Had Clyde pay my last years town and center school tax, he had to pay 2.25 extra for three Liens that are filed in the town clerks office. I have just came{come?} across a rule which I have had much use for before now, That is that One gallon of water weighs 3 1/3 pounds, and contains 231 cubic inches. {Note in margin of text: Weight of 1 gal of water} 08\15\{1899{ (Tuesday) The weather has been quite cool to day. Mrs. D.B. Hamilton, widow of Capt. D B Hamilton{the "a" in Hamilton is crossed out} offered last evening before the committee{cammittee!} on parks to buy the 45 acres of land bounded by Silver street on the West, Plank Road on the North, Brass{Bross?} Mill road on the East, and Ma_{Mad?} Riber on the South, and present it to the City of Waterbury for a park. The name to be Hamilton Park in honor of Captain hamilton. 08\16\1899 (Wednesday) Worked to day as usual at Rogers & Brothers. 08\17\{1899} (Thursday) To day I worked as usual. {new paragraph?} This evening Mary and I went to the Grange. They held an open meeting, the occassion{occasion!} being Floras might{?}. The Worthy Flora is Mrs. Thomas Fairclough of Wolcott. The meeting was largely{largly!} attended. The Programme was as{os!} follows, 1 Song by the Grange Choir, 2 Remarks by Judge Cowell, 3 Reading by Mr. Cook, of Natharolists{Naturalists?} club, 4 Singing by the German Concordia Quartette{Quartet?}, 5 Talk by Prof Sturg__{Sturggs?} of N. Haven Exp station{slation!}, 6 Recitation, Miss Deitridge, 7 Song, Mr. Byrnes, 8 Talk, Mr. D G. Porter, 9 Singing, Concordia{Concardia!} Singing Society{Saciety!}, {no number 10 is listed} 11 Talk on flowers, Mr. Dallis{?}, 12 Talk, D B Hotchkiss, 13 Spanish Dance, Miss Ida Mainard, 14 Song by Grange, Supper, 08\18\1899 (Friday) The weather to day has been hot although the sun has not shown. To day two men who are working on the American Telegraph an{on? and?} Telephone line from Boston to New York, putting up the poles came to our house to board. This evening the Drum Corps came and practiced and we went up to John French's and had lemonade and cake, there was{?} a number of girls and young folks there and we had a good time. 08\19\1899 (Saturday) Worked as usual. The independent{indipendent!} order of Faresters{Forrestors?} went to pleasure beach to day on an excursion. 08\20\{1899} (Sunday) To day is Sunday and it is very hot and dry, no rain has yet fallen this month We attended the Chapel this evening Mr. Fred Goodrich formity{formerly?} a Waterbury boy, but now of Minnesota{Minisota!} preached an excellent{exelelent!} sermon{cermon!}, after Chapel Mary and I drove out the Meriden Road to see the new bicycle{bicicle!} path that they are uilding. 08\21\{1899} (Monday) Worked at Rogers Brothers Fctory{?} Clyde went to the Adams Express office this morning and got a history of the town of Goshen which I bought of A. G Hibbard{?} of Woodstock{Woodstack!} for 3.25 he paid 25 cts express on it. 08\22\{1899} (Tuesday) The weather to day has been very warm. To morrow{Tomorrow?} Thomas Malone{Molone?} and Pat Mc Namara, two young men who are boarding here, and working on the American Telephone and Telegraph line, building it are going to be removed to Soughington{?}, along with the rest of the gang which numbers 75{?}. 08\23\{1899} (Wednesday) All of my family{familly!} exce__{except?} myself{muself!} went to High-rockj grove to the grange picnic, they had a fine time. 08\24\1899 (Thursday) Worked as usual at the shop. {new paragraph?} This evening mary and I went to the Grange. 08\25\1899 (Friday) Worked a usual at Rogers Brother_{Brothers?} {new paragraph?} This evening a number of the drummers went to Mr. Adelbert Nortons{?} in Wolcott to dru_{drum?}. They were Henry Buckingham, George Atkinson, Irving, Clyde, and myself, in my team. {new paragraph?} George{Gearge!} Cass, and Gardner Hall in George Casses team. {new paragraph?} Charlie Hotchkiss,{,?} and Sam Squires in Charlie Hotchkiss team, and Charlie Cass and wife in his team. {new paragraph?} We had a fine time, Drummed{?} most of the way up and march__{marched?} up the road to mr. Frank Munsons house, and down to Lewis Cooks, then returned and he lemonade and ice cream, got home at 12 o clock{o ctock!}. {Note in margin of text: I was there:{;?} M. Hall.} 08\26\{1899} (Saturday) Worked to day as usual. 08\27\{1899} (Sunday) Staid home till evening, when I drove to East Farms and saw Mr. Worden{Warden?} about going to town tomorrow{to-morrow?} night to see about sending our children who are to{too?} far advanced for the school in our district, to the Highschool in the center. Did not go to the Chapel as George Edwards called just before Chapel time{?} and I did not get ready Mr. Upson preached. He is from Milford. I knew him in 1876 when he preached in Wolcott. 08\28\{1899} (Monday) Worked as usual at Rogers Brothers 08\29\{1899} (Tuesday) I worked at the factory to day. 08\30\1899 (Wednesday) Worked to day. Had a smashup in the shop which will necessitate the shutting{shuttring?} down of the shop, a large driving pully{pulley?} on the main shaft broke. {new paragraph?} Robert Worden{Warden?} and I went to town tonight to see mr. Morris the First selectman, about getting our childre_{children?} into{snto?} the center school and having he state pay for it, the same as they do in other towns that have no highschool. We could not find him, we also went last monday night but failed to find him. 08\31\1899 (Thursday) This day I went to the shop and worked till 9.30 when I went to town and called at the Selectmens{?} office to see Mr. Morris the first selectman but he was not in, I then went to the Assessors office and saw sister Ive who orks there. From thence went and saw Wiffred{Wilfred?} Griggs a member of the school board, at 140 Grand street, talked about the center school He told me that the town board had nothing to do with the City schools, then went to the Bronson Library{Lybrary!} and saw Mr. Bassett the Chairman of the town school board he also told me that the City schools are entirely separate{sepirate!} from the town. {new paragraph?} I then reutnred to the Selectmens office and met Mr. Marris{?} who appeared very genteel. He admitted that he knew but little of school matters, but saw the injustice of obliging the parents of children having to pay 8 and 10.00 tu___hion{tuushion? tuition?} while the children of all other towns can go free, the state having to pay. 09\01\1899 (Friday) To day the weather has been very warm and dry. Worked in the shop as usual. This evening we had a Drum Corps meeting, there was present Chas Cass, Henry Buckingham, George Atkinson and Myself. We elected the following new members, Charlie Hotchkiss, George Cass, Clyde Miller _ammie{?} Squires, Irving Miller, Howard Neil, and Harry Buckingham{?} 09\02\1899 (Saturday) It began raining duyring the night and has rained at times all day. The belt which has been nade{made?} at the Farrell Foundry and machine Company's works came today, and we set{?} to work putting it on the main shaft, so the shop will start Tuesday. {new paragraph?} This evening Robert Worden{?} and I went toi see Mr. Kendrst{?} the town attorney about sending children to the center school He was off and we got no satisfaction. 09\03\{1899} (Sunday) Clyde, Irving and myself left home this morning, and drove over Silver Street to Dublin street, thence through Washington street to Brooklyn and on over Town Plob by the new Schoolhouse, then west and South over melmeleck hill to Brodleyville, Then South westerly{weste'rly!} to Guntown, then following in the vicinity{vacinity!} of the New England Railroad on the south side of{af!} it for a few miles we went to oxford, stoppin_{stopping?} in the woods on the way to feed the horse and eat our own dinner,{,?} of vituals that Mary had put up for us. {new paragraph?} Oxford is a country town situated in a valley, a small river runs through the village{villege!}. The place consists of two churches and about a dozen houses,{,?} probably here is a store, but we{us?} did not see it. From there we turned west by a church and went up an old road to Quaker farms, which was a pretty village{villege!} situated{sitiated?} on Eight mile River. The country in this section is very interesting. Hills of great size, with considerable valleys between and in places the sides of the hills are rent with gorges. The sides of many of the hills are for the mostpast{most-part?} covered with thick green woods, while the flat lands of the valleys and the tops of the hills are cleared to meadow and grazing land. From Quakers Farms{Farm_? plural?} we went to Zoar Bridge{?} by a very crooke_{crooked?} and hilly road,{,?} Zoar Bridge is built on the old suspension plan the calbes are of Five 1 1/2 inch wire ropes all bound together{togather!}, there are two of them, one on each side, and they are well anchored at the ends in solid masonry, the bridge is of wood painted white, except the iron which is black, which with the towers makes a very pickuresque structure. From the bridge we traveled a hilly, crooked, and lovely{tovely!} road through Stevenson to Monroe in Fairfield county. This village{?} consists of two churches a store, several houses, and a fine new building which I took to be a public library{lybrary!}, which together{togather!} with a nice center green{is "green" underlined?} made a pretty ountry village. Without stopping we continued our Westward course to Upper STepney which place we reached after dark, where we found lodgins at the house of Mr. Hawley. The weather has been warm, and as night set in flashes of lightening lit up the heavens, and soon thunder began to rool{roll?}, and at about nin o'clock we had a heavy shower. The distance traveled to day has been about 42 miles {new paragraph?} Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain Chapel. 09\04\1899 (Monday) This day; is Labor day; and is a legal holiday{hollowday!} in this state. This morning we arose at 5.45 and went out to take a look at Stepney{Stetney?}. {new paragraph?} After stolling{strooling!} about the park, I looked at my compass and wondered if the pointer had changed{chainged!} ends and the dark colored and pointed South, I could rardly{hardly?} believe{beleave!} that the sun was rising in the East, But the sun and compass was all right,{,?} and I was twisted. Stephney is a pretty place of about 12 or 15 houses, and two Churches Baptist and Methodist and one store which had the Post Office in it, It was kept by Mr. Hawley who we staid with. At 6.30 we had breakfast of ham and Eggs etc. After which I paid Mr. Hawley $1.50 for our lodgings etc, after which we hitched up and started for Reading Ridge nine miles distant, the road was very crooked and hilly but quite interesting, we stoped at a Blacksmith shop and had two new shoes pul{put?} on the horse's fore{?} feet, for which I paid 50 cts, at this place the road crossed a small river which ran over ledges and ro_ks{rocks/} to the exten_{extent?} that there was about seventyfive feet fall in about ten rods distance, and there was a Sawmill, a Grist mill, another mill, and a place where a mill had stood, which took the water one{?} after the other. {new paragraph?} After leaving the Blacksmith shop we journeyed on and after climbing a long steep and crooked hill reached Redding Ridge, where we turned North near the church and went about four miles to Putnam park. This park is a very interesting and historic{historick!} spot, there is a monument here erected to the memory of the men who suffered{seffered!} there. {There is a drawing of a monument in the middle of this page. There are four blocks with text in each corner around the monument. The following is written on the drawing of the monument: Erected to Commer{?} ate the winter quarters of The following is written in the block labelled South: Putnam. McDougal. Poor. Prsons. Huntington. The following is written in the block labelled North: The World if full of their Praises Posterity stands astonished at their Deeds. The following is written in the block labelled East: The men of 76 who suffered here To preserver forever their Memory The State of Connecticut has erected this monument. A.D. 1888. The following is written in the block labelled West: Erected to Commemorage the Winter Quarters of Putnam's Division of The Continental Army Nov 7 1778. May 25 1779.} {new paragraph?} There are still to be seen the remains of 130 fire places, each of which are all that is left of a hut about 10 x 16 feet square in which the soldiers staid. There were quartered here Poors New Hampshire Brigade also the brigades of Parsons, Huntington{?}, McDugal, and Colonel Elishia Sheldons Regiment of Calvary. {new paragraph?} The troops remained there from Nov 7th 1778 to May{Mgg!} 25 1779, a fin_{fins?} monument 10 ft square at the base and about 45 fet high stands within the old camp round. There has been many improvements{improvments!} made about the Park in the way of drives. Two block-houses, one each side of the entrance{enterence!}, three heavy cannons, several log buildings and a large pavillion{provillion!}, etc. There several large caves in a ledge North East of the old camp, and also two ponds, I_{It?} is not a favorite place for Church picnic parties, and public festivities. At 12.30 we got into our Spindle buggy and started for home, and were obliged to drive South towards Redding about 2 miles in order to get onto the Newtown{?} road. Went then to New-town{?} 10 miles. From thence in a round-a-bout way to Sandyhook{?} 5 miles, thence to Sandyhook station, 4 miles, where we left Irving to take the train to Waterbury. Clyde and I continued on{.?} and crossed the Housatonic river at the new iron bridge above the Rail Road bridge, and drove to Southbury 6 miles, then to Middlebury 6 miles, then to Waterbury, 6 miles, and home 2 miles, makeing a total of 53 miles traveled to day. _y{thy?} team. 09\05\1899 (Tuesday) Worked to day as usual at the International Silver works. 09\06\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked as usual, Received{Recived!} 13.50 my last weeks pay. 09\07\1899 (Thursday) Worked as usual to day, this evening Mary and I attended the Grange. 09\08\{1899} (Friday) To day I worked as usual. This evening we had a drum Corps meeting. 09\09\{1899} (Saturday) Worked at the factory to day. 09\10\{1899} (Sunday) This forenoon Father Called and wanted me to go with him to a clambake out on Southington mountain at Mr. Morris Hemingways hotel, I told him that I would go Mr. Fred Brainard ar{or?} Mr. Runge of Meriden{Merriden!} called and wanted to buy a power blower which I have, I bargained to sell it to him for $4.00 Father called at noon for me to go to the clambake, and when we got there we found the bake nearly ready. They were baked the Rhode Island way that is by making a bed of loose{loase!} stones about 14 inches deep and 5 or 6 feet across and then bulding a fire on the bed which het{heat?} the stones very hot, hen when the stones are hot enought the fire is swept off the stones and they are covered with sea weed and they put on 1 barrel of little-neck{little-neh!} clams, and 1 barrel{barrell!} of long clams{clans!}, 1 dozen lobsters{lbsters!}, and 1/2 dozen blud fish, some chickens a lot of common{cammon!} potatoes and some sweet potatoes, also a lot of green corn, the whole of which they buries with Sea weed and covered with sail cloth, and the hot stones steamed it about 1/2 hour when it was done, there were about 20 persons present, and all had what they could eat and there was quite a little left. 09\11\1899 (Monday) {11?} Worked as usual to day 09\12\{1899} (Tuesday) Worked as usual in the shop 09\13\{1899} (Wednesday) Worked in the shop to day. 09\14\{1899} (Thursday) Worked as usual. This evening Mary and I attended the Grange 09\15\{1899} (Friday) Worked as usual. This evening the following members of the Mattatuck Drum Corps went to Marian{?}, Charles Cass, Clyde Miller and Sam Squires, Fiffers{Fifers?}, Henry Buckingham, Bass drummer, Gardener Hall, Irving Miller, Howard Neil, George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss and myself; snare drummers; we drove to the house of Mr. Billings Neil, where we formed and marched, South to the house of Mr. Bennett Upon{Upson?} and couter-marched{countermarched?} to the road that runs to Southington and Cowpounce{?}, then back to Mr. Neils where we had hot coffee, doughnuts, pie, cake, apples, grapes, etc, after which we started home, each wagon carried a torch which lit up the road, we got home at quarter to one. 09\16\1899 (Saturday) Worked as usual. Cousin Marion Gillette of North Goshen who has been at Fathers house since last sunday came to our house to day. 09\17\{1899} (Sunday) This morning we had breakfast of stewed oysters, after which we hitched Jack into th two seated canopy top wagon and drove Mt Carmel{?}, where had the horse put out{.?} and left orders to have it fed and then we, Clyde, Marion Gillette, Margaret, irving, and I took the trolley car and went to Light house{2 words?} point, riding 15 1/2 miles for 20 cts we remineed{remained?} there till 5 o'clock when we came home by the same way that we went, reached home at 9 o clock. Rev. Mr. Howell preached at Mill Plain{Plan!} Chapel 09\18\{1899} (Monday) Worked in th shop as usual. 09\19\{1899} (Tuesdayz) Worked as usual at the Factory of the international silver company which is designated{disignated!} as Factory J. 09\20\1899 (Wednesday) Worked as usual to day. Received{Recived!} my pay for last weeks work. 09\21\{1899} (Thursday) Worked as usual today. {new paragraph?} This evening mary and I went to he Grange. The meeting was in charge of WorthyPomona, who is Mrs. John Gallagher. 09\22\{1899} (Friday) This is my wifes birthday 39 years old, Worked as usual. The Mattatuck Drum Corps had its weekly meeting this evening and elected officers as follows, Charles S Miller, Leader{?} Charles Cass, assistant leader, Gardner J Hall,{,?} SEcretary, George Cass, treasurer and Howard Neil property manager, {new paragraph?} To day is also Mrs. Sara H. Hine's birthday she is 50 years old. 09\23{24!}\1899 (Saturday) Worked as usual in Rogers Brothers factory, and as I have not worked at many different kinds of jobs, I think I can remember what I have done, First, I forged over a spoon blanking die for James Byrned, next made a new drop belt 9" wide for James Claffey, then ailed{oiled?} the shafting all over the shop, then turned up a polishing wheel of sea-horse hide, then went outside and orked till noon getting out a strump{?} that had fallen down the bank and crushed the fence down, next oiled up the loose pulley about the shop, which took till 12.30 then ate my dinner, after which, I went to work at the stumps and worked till 4.30 when I quit, and went home, the shop shuts down at 5 o'clock saturday nights, and I work 1/2 hour as{?} noon, so I get through at 4.30 09\24{25!}\{1899} (Sunday) {Only "